[Adopted by Ord. No. 135; amended in its entirety 9-28-1994
by Ord. No. 420 (Ch. 2, Part 1, of the 1994 Code)]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
Any person having a right of property in any dog or having custody
of any dog, or any person who harbors or permits a dog to remain on or around
his or her property.
Being upon any public highway, street, alley, park, or any other
public land, or upon property of another person other than the owner, and
not being accompanied by or under the control of the owner or any other person
having custody of said dog.
A dog warden shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners to serve
during its pleasure. Such dog warden, along with the police officers, shall
have concurrent responsibility for the enforcement of this article and of
the Dog Law of 1982 (3 P.S. § 459-101 et seq.), as hereafter amended,
supplemented, modified or reenacted by the General Assembly of Pennsylvania;
provided, that he shall not have the power to make arrests under this Act
of Assembly or any other Act of Assembly or ordinance of the Township.
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog or dogs to allow or permit
such dog or dogs to run at large in the Township.
The dog warden or any police officer or constable may seize any dog
found at large in the Township. Such dogs are to be impounded in a licensed
kennel.
The Chief of Police shall notify the owner of a licensed dog by registered
or certified mail, with return receipt, that the dog is impounded and will
be disposed of in five days if not claimed. Five days after the return receipt
has been received, and the dog has not been claimed, the dog may be sold or
destroyed in accordance with the 1982 Dog Law.
Unlicensed dogs that are seized shall be held in such kennel for 48
hours and if not claimed may be destroyed in accordance with the 1982 Dog
Law.
Dogs that, in the opinion of any police officer or dog warden, constitute
a threat to public health and welfare may be killed by the police or dog warden.
The first two times a dog is seized, the owner shall pay a fine of $15
to the Township as well as reasonable fees for keeping the animal in a kennel
as fixed pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Commissioners. Any person
allowing a dog to run at large a third time in violation of this article shall,
upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $600,
and, in default of payment, to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days.
