City of Harrisburg, PA Chapter 3-515 Ownership and Possession of Dogs

[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Harrisburg 9-22-1998 by Ord. No. 11-1998[1]. Amendments noted where applicable.]

[1] Editor's Note: Ordinance No. 18-2003, adopted 7-8-2003, designated Ord. No. 11-1998 as Ch. 5-719 of the Code. This chapter was renumbered as Ch. 3-515 at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1-303).

§ 3-515.1 Purpose.

This chapter is enacted to authorize the sale of dog licenses, maintenance of records relating thereto and enforcement of these regulations by the Tax Enforcement Administrator,[1] the Bureau of Police or an authorized agent of either.

[1] Editor's Note: Throughout this chapter, references to the "Tax and Enforcement Officer" were amended to "Tax Enforcement Administrator" at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1-303).

§ 3-515.2 Definitions.

See § 3-501.2 for applicable definitions.

§ 3-515.3 License required.

A. No person shall keep, harbor or maintain a dog over the age of three months unless the owner obtains a license from the Tax Enforcement Administrator or an authorized agent.

B. The provisions of this section shall not apply to dogs whose owners are within the City for 60 days or less or to dogs brought into the City for the specific purpose of participating in a dog show or similar event.

C. A yearly license shall be effective from January 1 to December 31, and a multi-year license shall be effective from January 1 to December 31 of the third calendar year following purchase.

§ 3-515.4 Licensing information.

For each dog for which a license is required, the owner shall state on the application for license the following information:

A. Owner's name.

B. Owner's date of birth.

C. Owner's social security number.

D. Owner's home address.

E. Owner's home telephone number.

F. Owner's work address.

G. Owner's work telephone number.

H. An alternate emergency contact person and telephone number.

I. Breed of each dog.

J. Sex of each dog.

K. Age of each dog.

L. Name of dog.

M. Color and markings of the dog.

§ 3-515.5 License fees.

A. Prior to the issuance of any dog license by the Tax Enforcement Administrator or an authorized agent, the application shall be accompanied by proof that the dog for which a license is being sought has a current rabies vaccination in addition to the appropriate license fee as follows:

(1) Upon application prior to March 1 of the year in which licensing is required, or within two months of purchase or receipt of a dog if after February 28 of said year, whichever is sooner, a calendar year license fee for all qualifying male and female dogs shall be $6.

(2) Upon application prior to March 1 of the year in which licensing is required, or within two months of purchase or receipt of a dog if after February 28 of said year, whichever is sooner, a multi-year license fee for all qualifying male and female dogs shall be $14.

(3) Licenses for any dog designated as a dangerous animal under authority of Chapter 3-513 of these Codified Ordinances shall be issued on a calendar year basis. Owners of dangerous animals applying, prior to March 1, or within two months of the purchase or receipt of said dog if after February 28 of said year, whichever is sooner, for a calendar year license shall be required to pay a fee of $35 to the City Treasurer.

B. Any and all dog licensing fees paid to the City Treasurer are nonrefundable for any reason.

C. Any owner of a dog required to be licensed who has not applied for said license prior to March 1 of the year in which a license is required or within two months of the purchase or receipt of a dog if after February 28th of said year, whichever is sooner, shall be subject to the following fee schedule:

(1) Annual licensing fee of $12.

(2) Multi-year licensing fee of $20.

(3) Annual licensing fee for dangerous animals shall be $70.

D. The Tax Enforcement Administrator or an authorized agent will provide applications for licenses to nonprofit shelters and other approved locations within the City limits for the convenience of City residents.

E. Any check returned for nonsufficient funds ("NSF") will void any license issued in reliance upon said check and will subject the owner to the penalty section contained herein for failure to obtain a license.

§ 3-515.6 Fee exemptions.

[Amended 8-10-1999 by Ord. No. 38-1999]

A. If the owner has obtained and a dog is therefor licensed with a lifetime dog license purchased from the County of Dauphin prior to January 31, 1999, there shall be no need to acquire a City dog license, and the county-issued lifetime dog license shall be recognized by the City as though issued by the City.

B. The provisions of this chapter relating to the payment of licensing fees shall not apply to any resident who uses a service animal for aid or the Bureau of Police using a service animal in the performance of the functions and duties of the Bureau. License tags for service animals used by the Bureau of Police in the performance of the functions and duties of the Bureau shall be issued without charge.

§ 3-515.7 Tag and collar required.

A. Upon payment of the appropriate license fee, there shall be issued to the owner a tag for each dog licensed. The tag shall be stamped with an identification number followed by the letters "HBG."

B. Dangerous animal licenses shall be red in color and shall be stamped with an identification number followed by the letters "HBG."

C. Every owner shall be required to provide each dog which ventures upon the public street, sidewalk or other public places with a collar to which such license tag shall be affixed.

D. License identification tags shall not be transferable from one dog to another for whatever reason, including the death of a dog or the owner leaving the City before the expiration of the license.

E. Identification tags that are lost or stolen may be replaced for the same dog upon presentation of the original receipt given for the license or any other identification required by the Tax Enforcement Administrator. The cost of replacement identification tags shall be $10 and shall be payable to the City Treasurer.

§ 3-515.8 License issuance and revocation.

A. The Tax Enforcement Administrator, Chief of Police or any other designated agent of the City may revoke any license if the person holding the license refuses or fails to comply with this chapter, any regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, or any law governing the protection and keeping of animals.

B. Any person whose license is revoked shall, within 10 days thereafter, humanely dispose of or remove all animals owned, kept or harbored by such person, and no part of the license fee shall be refunded.

C. It shall be a condition of the issuance of any license that the Chief of Police or any other designated agent shall be permitted, unless prohibited by state or federal law, to inspect all animals and the premises where the animals are kept at any time.

D. If the applicant has withheld or falsified any information on the application, the Tax Enforcement Administrator, the Chief of Police or any designated agent may refuse to issue a license or may revoke the same.

E. No person who has been convicted of cruelty to animals or similar offense(s) shall be issued a permit or license to operate any commercial animal establishment or animal clinic or hospital.

F. Any person having been denied a dog license may not reapply for a period of one year.

§ 3-515.9 Retention of records.

A. The Tax Enforcement Administrator shall keep a record, in accordance with the City's record retention policy, of all licenses issued for a period of two years.

B. The record shall be a public record and shall be open for review to interested persons during normal business hours.

§ 3-515.99 Penalty.

Any person found guilty of violating any of the provisions contained herein shall be subject to a fine of not less than $50, plus costs, if it is a first offense. The penalty shall be not less than $250, plus costs, for the second and subsequent offenses.