A.
Hereafter,
it shall be unlawful for an owner or keeper of any dog or dogs, licensed
or unlicensed, to permit such dog or dogs to run at large unaccompanied
by the owner or keeper. When not on the premises of the owner or keeper,
a dog must be leashed at all times when on foot. The leash shall be
of sturdy material, not more than eight feet in length.
B.
It
shall be unlawful for any owner of any dog or dogs, unlicensed or
licensed, to permit such dog or dogs to run at large unaccompanied
by the owner. The word "owner," as used in this section, shall include
every person having a right of proprietorship or ownership in a dog
and every person who keeps or harbors a dog or has it in his care,
and every person who permits a dog to remain on or about any premises
occupied by him. A dog shall be deemed "at large" if off the premises
of the owner and not on a leash.
The Board of Commissioners shall be empowered to issue a declaration
prohibiting cats from running at large in the Township of Springfield
if an epidemic of rabies is confirmed in the township or in any municipality
adjacent to the township. The end of the period of prohibition shall
be determined by the Board of Commissioners. Notice of the declaration
prohibiting cats from running at large and notice of the end of the
period of prohibition shall be given to the public by means of an
announcement in a newspaper of general circulation within the township
and by means of appropriate announcements through other available
media sources. Following the issuance of such declaration, it shall
be unlawful for the owner of any cat to allow such cat off a leash
while outside.
A.
Any dog or dogs not claimed within a reasonable time, as determined
by the Chief of Police, and by virtue of the provisions of this article,
shall be disposed of in accordance with the Acts of Assembly of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in such case made and provided.
B.
Any dog or dogs bearing a proper license tag and seized by a police
officer of the township shall be detained, properly kept and fed,
and immediate notice, either personal or registered mail, shall be
given to the person in whose name the license was procured or his
agent to claim the dog within 48 hours. The owner of the dog so detained
shall pay all expenses incurred by reason of its detention before
the dog is returned.
It is the intent that this article shall be supplemental to
any laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereinbefore or hereinafter
adopted covering dogs within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and
specifically in the Township of Springfield. Should any of the provisions
of this article be contrary to the provisions of any Act of Assembly,
it is the intent that the Act of Assembly shall supersede this article.
The proper officers of the township are authorized to enter
into such agreements or contracts with any individual or individuals
or corporations as may be reasonably necessary to implement the provisions
of this article in regard to the care and custody of such dogs detained
by the township pursuant to the provisions of this article and to
provide for the reasonable compensation of such person, persons or
corporations for such services.
A.
Any owner, person, firm, association or corporation who shall violate
or fail or refuse to comply with any provision of this article shall,
upon conviction in a summary proceeding before a District Justice
of Springfield Township, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than
$100 and not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution.
B.
For the first offense under this article, any owner, person, firm, association or corporation can avoid prosecution by reporting to the police station within 72 hours after receipt of such notice and paying the sum of $25. For the second and subsequent offenses, the owner, person, firm, association or corporation shall be prosecuted in accordance with Subsection A above.
C.
A new and separate offense shall be deemed to have been committed
for each day that any violation of the provisions of this article
shall continue to exist.
