[Adopted 12-20-2004 by Ord. No. 838]
This article applies to wild or exotic animals
which are prohibited or protected by Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations,
or otherwise controlled by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
For purposes of this article, the following
terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Any animal that is not normally domesticated in the United
States or is wild by nature. Exotic animals include, but are not limited
to, any or all of the following orders and families, whether bred
in the wild or in captivity, and also any or all of the hybrids with
domestic species. The animals listed in parentheses are intended to
act as examples and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list
or to limit the generality of each group of animals, unless otherwise
specified.
A.
Nonhuman primates and posiminans (monkeys, chimpanzees,
baboons);
B.
Felidae (lions, tigers, bobcats, cougars, leopards,
jaguars, mountain lions and nondomesticated cats);
C.
Canidae (wolves, coyotes, foxes, jackals, nondomesticated
dogs);
D.
Ursidae (all bears);
E.
All venomous and constricting snakes, including, but
not limited to, all members of the families Vilperiidae (vipers and
pit vipers), Elapidae (cobras), Hydrophidae (sea snakes), venomous
Colubridae (boomslang, twig snake and keel back snake genus); all
members of the order Crocodilia, including alligators, crocodiles,
caimans and gharials, venomous fish other than those commonly kept
in small aquariums and posing no significant hazard to humans or domestic
animals;
F.
Crocodilia (alligators, crocodiles);
G.
Proboscidas (elephants);
H.
Hyaenidae (hyenas);
I.
Artiodactyla (hippopotamuses, giraffes, camels, but
not cattle, swine, sheep or goats);
J.
Marsupialia (kangaroos, opossums);
K.
Perissodactyla (rhinoceroses, tapirs, but not horses,
donkeys or mules);
L.
Edentata (anteaters, sloths, armadillos);
M.
Viverridae (mongooses, civets and genets).
All reptilian species not prohibited as pets
or specimens must be contained within habitats designed to prevent
escape; shall be transported in escape-proof containers; shall not
be handled openly in public places unless the handler is conducting
an educational meeting or is demonstrating a reptile for sale within
a commercial animal establishment; and shall not be released or abandoned
except for native reptiles which have wandered near human habitation
and may be relocated to nearby natural habitat. Any captive reptile
secured by or forfeited to the Borough shall be released to a zoo,
humane society or reptile rescue organization, or euthanized at the
discretion of the Borough Police, Zoning Officer or Code Enforcement
Officer.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, possess,
keep, harbor, bring, or have in one's possession an exotic animal(s)
within the Borough limits.
B.
It shall be unlawful for the owner, possessor, or
any other person in control of a lot, tract, or parcel of land within
the Borough limits or any residence or business premises situated
thereon to knowingly permit any other person to be in possession of
an exotic animal upon the property, residence or premises.
A.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate
any provision of this article, upon conviction thereof in an action
brought before a district justice in the manner provided for the enforcement
of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure,
shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $300, plus costs,
and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment
not to exceed 90 days. Each separate day that a violation of this
article continues or each section of this article which shall be found
to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.
B.
In addition to the foregoing, the Borough may, at
its sole discretion, cause to be seized any animal which is located
in Pleasant Hills in violation of this article. Furthermore, the Borough
may seek injunctive relief in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny
County requiring any animal located in the Borough of Pleasant Hills
in violation of this article to be removed. These remedies available
to the Borough are not mutually exclusive, and the Borough may, at
its sole discretion, fine any person, cause to be seized any animal
and/or request injunctive relief regarding the same for violations
of this article,
The provisions of this article shall not apply
to:
A.
A bona fide publicly or privately owned zoological
park or educational institution incorporated or authorized to do business
in Pennsylvania, such as:
(1)
A humane society or animal park;
(2)
A veterinary hospital, clinic or office;
(3)
A bona fide research institution using animals for
scientific research;
(4)
Institutions accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium
Association; or
(5)
Animals sold at pet stores recognized as domestic
pets as defined herein.
Any person owning or possessing a wild or exotic
animal at the time of enactment of this article may, pending the approval
of the Zoning Officer, obtain a permit for said wild or exotic animal,
provided that:
A.
A permit application is filed with the Borough of
Pleasant Hills Police Department and/or the Zoning Officer within
45 days of the effective date of this article. Such application is
to include:
B.
The plan and facilities for the housing and containment
of wild or exotic animal must be reviewed, inspected and approved
by the Zoning Officer as adequate to prevent such animal from escaping
or injuring the public.
C.
An annual permit fee in the amount of $25 for each
wild or exotic animal shall be paid by the owner or possessor of such
animal to the Borough of Pleasant Hills. The fee for the year must
be paid by January 5 of that year.
D.
Upon the death, sale, adoption, exchange, transfer
or disposal of said wild or exotic animal, the animal may not be replaced.
However, wild or exotic animals which are used for educational purposes
or which are the source of one's livelihood may be replaced upon the
death or sale of said animal(s), subject to the discretion of the
Zoning Officer and registration of the replacement animal(s).
