[Adopted 7-13-1998]
Any person who owns, harbors, keeps or is in charge of any dog within
Mahoning Township shall not permit such dog to be unattended within the Township
and shall require said dog to be restrained by a leash or other appropriate
device of control so that it cannot stray beyond the premises on which it
is secured, or under reasonable control of some person, which for the purpose
of this article shall be "curbing." Such curbing shall be permitted on public
streets, public grounds and on private property with the express permission
of the owner of such property.
Any person who curbs such a dog shall immediately remove all feces deposited
by such dog by any sanitary method, and the same shall be deposited in the
owner's garbage or disposed of in some other sanitary method. The deposit
shall be properly wrapped, packaged or protected so as to prevent unsightly
disposal, smell or interference with the health and welfare of the community.
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this article shall,
upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced
by the Township before a District Justice, pay a fine of not more than $600,
plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred by the
Township in the enforcement of this article. No judgment shall be imposed
until the date of the determination of the violation by the District Justice.
If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment, the Township
may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable Rules of Civil Procedure.
Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense. Further,
the appropriate officers or agents of the Township are hereby authorized to
seek equitable relief, including injunction, to enforce compliance herewith.
