[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
West Conshohocken 3-12-1991 by Ord. No. 412. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fines and penalties — See Ch. 53A.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any animate being which is endowed with the power of voluntary
motion, not including humans.
[Amended 10-13-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-09, approved 10-13-2009]
All tame animals living in or near the habitations of human
beings or by habit of special training in association with human beings.
Any animal that is not a domestic animal.
The Borough Council is hereby authorized, at any time and from
time to time, to appoint a person or persons to serve as Animal Control
Officer for the Borough and to enter into a contract with said Animal
Control Officer upon such terms as to compensation and otherwise as
the Borough Council may prescribe.
[Amended 10-13-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-09, approved 10-13-2009]
It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any animal to
permit or allow such animal to run at large at any time, either licensed
or unlicensed, on any street, alley or public ground in the Borough
of West Conshohocken or on property of other than the owner or keeper
except as permitted by law. All dogs and cats not on the property
of the owner or keeper shall be kept on a leash and under the immediate
and adequate control of such owner or keeper. The Animal Control Officer
shall have the authority to seize and to impound any animal running
at large on the public streets or alleys of the Borough or upon the
property of other than the owner or keeper of such animal.
A.
It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer who witnesses or receives any information of any animal running at large to impound the animal running at large in violation of § 36-3 of this chapter and to seize and detain such animal in a place designated by the Animal Control Officer as a pound.
B.
The Animal Control Officer shall cause any animal bearing a proper license tag or other identification and so seized and detained to be properly kept and fed and shall cause immediate notice, either personal or by registered mail, to be given to the person in whose name the license was procured, by his/her agent or whomever is identified as the responsible party, to claim such animal in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth in Subsection C. In the event that an unlicensed animal or one that is unable to be identified is so seized and detained, there shall be no obligation hereafter to notify or determine the owner of said animal.
[Amended 10-13-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-09, approved 10-13-2009]
C.
Seized and detained unlicensed or unidentified animals may be redeemed by the owner, or his/her agent, at the designated pound within 10 days of the giving of notice upon payment of a penalty, detailed in § 36-18 of this chapter, and the payment to cover actual expenses incurred by the Borough by reason of such detention. Adjustments in the rates to cover costs incurred in the detention of seized animals shall be determined from time to time by the Borough Council and can be amended by resolution of same.
[Amended 10-13-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-09, approved 10-13-2009]
The owner of any dog shall properly curb such dog from barking,
howling and yelping in such excessive and habitual manner as to unreasonably
disturb the peace, safety and quiet of the immediate neighborhood.
[Amended 10-13-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-09, approved 10-13-2009]
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any animal or keeper of
any animal to permit such animals to attack any human being or any
domesticated animal or to damage any personal property, including
but not confined to damage resulting from placing urine or excrement
on grass, shrubs, trees, flowers or any other form of vegetation not
owned by or in possession of the animal owner or animal keeper. No
person, having possession, custody or control of any animal, shall
knowingly or negligently permit any animal to defecate upon any gutter,
street, driveway, alley, curb or sidewalk in the Borough; upon the
floors or stairways of any building or place frequented by the public
or used in common by the tenant; upon the outside walls, walkways,
driveways, alleys, curbs or stairways of any building abutting on
a public street or park; or upon private property other than the property
of the owner or keeper of such animal. No person shall permit any
animal to disturb, deface or destroy the property of any person other
than that of the animal's owner or keeper.
[Amended 10-13-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-09, approved 10-13-2009]
A.
Any
case where an animal attacks a human shall be governed in accordance
with state law.
B.
Any
animal which attacks a human being shall be detained and observed
in accordance with the customary practices for such an event.
C.
When
a dog that bites or attacks a human being is a guide dog for the blind,
a hearing dog for the deaf, an aid dog for the handicapped or a police
work dog in the performance of duties, said dog need not be confined
if it is under the active supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
[Amended 10-13-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-09, approved 10-13-2009]
All inoculations of animals shall be done in conformance with
state law.
In the case of dogs and cats or other animals known to have
been bitten by a rabid animal, the following rules will apply:
A.
Unvaccinated
animals.
(1)
In the case of dogs or cats or other animals which are not vaccinated
in accordance with the requirements of inoculation set forth in this
chapter or in accordance with customary veterinary practices and which
have been bitten by a known rabid animal, said bitten (exposed) animal
will be immediately destroyed.
[Amended 10-13-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-09, approved 10-13-2009]
(2)
If the owner is unwilling to destroy the bitten (exposed) dog, cat
or other animal, strict isolation of the dog or cat or other animal
in a kennel under veterinary supervision for a minimum of six months
at the owner's expense will be required.
B.
Dogs,
cats or other animals which have been inoculated in accordance with
the requirements of inoculation set forth in this chapter will be
handled as follows:
(1)
The dog or cat will be immediately reinoculated and confined as required
by means of a collar and chain or leash or other devices so that it
cannot stray beyond the premises on which it is secured for a period
of 30 days following reinoculation.
(2)
If the dog, cat or other animal is not immediately reinoculated,
the dog, cat or other animal will be confined in strict isolation
in a kennel for six months under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian
at the owner's expense.
[Amended 10-13-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-09, approved 10-13-2009]
A.
The owner of any animal, in the event such animal defecates on any
property other than that of the owner, shall immediately remove and
dispose of all feces so deposited in a sanitary manner.
B.
The owner of any animal shall properly clean and otherwise maintain
the owner's pounds, kennels, yards and other areas in which such
animal is kept to prevent the creation of any nuisance or health hazard.
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any female dog in heat
to permit at any time such dog to go beyond the premises of the owner
unless such dog is properly confined.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 36-12, Confinement
of dogs, was repealed 10-13-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-09, approved 10-13-2009.
No person or persons, partnership, firm or corporation shall
keep any pig or hog at any place within the limits of the Borough.
It shall be unlawful to keep any wild animals in the Borough
of West Conshohocken.
No person shall own or have in his custody any animal in such
a manner as to create any obnoxious or foul odor therefrom beyond
the property line.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 36-16, Shelter standards,
was repealed 10-13-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-09, approved 10-13-2009.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 36-17, Number of dogs
and cats limited, was repealed 10-13-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-09, approved
10-13-2009.
A.
Any person violating the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to the provisions detailed in Chapter 53A of the Code of the Borough of West Conshohocken.
[Amended 10-13-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-09, approved 10-13-2009; 10-12-2010 by Ord. No.
2010-14, approved 10-12-2010]
B.
In addition to whatever fine is imposed, the owner or owners will
be responsible for all detention charges imposed in accordance with
the rules and regulations of the Animal Control Officer.
C.
For the purposes of enforcing the provisions of this chapter, notice
of violation shall be issued by the Animal Control Officer. Whenever
the Animal Control Officer or others designated by Borough Council
observe a violation of the provisions of this chapter, that person
shall hand to the violator a printed notice of violation.
[Added 10-13-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-09, approved 10-13-2009]
