[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Greensburg 7-12-1971 as Ord. No. 912. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parks and recreation areas — See Ch. 193.
Property maintenance — See Ch. 205.
Solid waste — See Ch. 227.
Zoning — See Ch. 265.
This chapter provides for the control of dogs and other animals; providing definitions; requiring animal bite reporting; requiring ten-day quarantine of biting animals; requiring vaccination of dogs against rabies; regulating the handling of suspected rabid animals and animals exposed to rabies; authorizing emergency measures; prohibiting the harboring of a nuisance and animals at large and providing for the public peace, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare; and providing penalties.
It is hereby declared that inadequate reporting of biting animals and inadequate quarantine of biting animals, insufficient animal vaccination, inadequate rules and regulations for handling suspected rabid animals and animals exposed to rabies and a rabies outbreak and inadequate rules and regulations for the control of harboring a nuisance and control of animals at large endanger the health, safety, morale, welfare and reasonable comfort of the city, and that the establishment and maintenance of proper dog and other animal control and the continuous antirabies vaccination of the dog population are essential to the public health, safety and welfare.
The following terms, whenever used in this chapter, have the meanings indicated in this section, except where the context indicates a clearly different meaning:
[1]AT LARGE
Any dog or other animal shall be deemed to be at large when it is off the property of its owner and not restrained by a competent person.
DIRECTOR
The Chief of Police of the City of Greensburg or any person he may appoint to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
DOG
As defined in 3 P.S. § 459-102.
[Amended 12-21-1994 by Ord. No. 1646]
EUTHANIZE
Put to death in a humane manner.
EXPOSED TO RABIES
Any dog, whether licensed and vaccinated for rabies protection or not, which has been bitten, been fighting with or has consorted with an animal known or suspected to have rabies. This also includes any cat or other animal similarly exposed to rabies.
IMPOUND
To apprehend, catch, trap, net or, if necessary, to kill any animal by the local Police Department or the Westmoreland County Health Department or their agents.
IMPOUNDING FACILITIES
Any premises for the purpose of impounding and caring for dogs under the provisions of these rules and regulations or otherwise.
KENNEL
Any establishment wherein or whereon dogs or other animals are kept or maintained for any commercial purpose and which is so constructed that dogs or other mammals cannot stray therefrom.
OWNER
As defined in 3 P.S. § 459-102. In addition, any person who feeds and/or harbors a feline (cat) shall assume ownership and responsibility.
[Amended 12-21-1994 by Ord. No. 1646; 9-11-2000 by Ord. No. 1807]
PERSON
As defined in 3 P.S. § 459-102.
[Amended 12-21-1994 by Ord. No. 1646]
RESTRAINT
A dog or any other animal is under restraint within the meaning of these rules and regulations if it is controlled by a leash or chain not exceeding six feet in length or is in the company of and under the complete control of the owner or of some person acting for the owner.
UNLICENSED DOG
Any dog for which the license for the current year has not been paid or to which the license tag for the current year provided for in these rules and regulations is not attached.
VETERINARIAN
A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, graduated from an accredited and recognized school of veterinary medicine and possessing a license to practice veterinary medicine as issued by the Pennsylvania State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners or licensed to practice veterinary medicine in another state where residing.[2]
[1]
Editor's Note: The definition of "approved vaccine," which immediately preceded this definition, was deleted at time of adoption of Code; see Chapter 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
[2]
Editor's Note: Original Sections 5 and 6, which dealt with animal bites and immediately followed this section, were deleted 12-21-1994 by Ord. No. 1646.
Animal vaccination and certification shall be conducted as provided by the Rabies Prevention and Control in Domestic Animals and Wildlife Act, 3 P.S. § 455.1 et seq.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Chapter 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person keeping, harboring or having any dog, cat or other mammal which exhibits clinical symptoms suggestive of rabies to refuse such animals to be impounded for 10 days at facilities approved by the department.
B. 
All veterinarians in the City of Greensburg shall report immediately all suspected cases of rabies to the department.
Any dog, cat or mammal which has been exposed to rabies should be destroyed immediately, unless herein otherwise provided. If the owner is unwilling to do this, one of the following alternatives must be followed:
A. 
Strict isolation in a kennel or animal hospital for six months.
B. 
If no previous vaccination has been given within a period of three years with LEP (Fleury strain) vaccine or within one year using a vaccine of nervous tissue origin, administer post-exposure treatment and confine in a kennel for three months. Post-exposure treatment may consist of administration of antirabies serum (0.5 ml./Eg.b.w.), followed by one to three doses of chicken embryo vaccine within seven days or 14 injections of nervous tissue vaccine.
C. 
If the animal has been vaccinated previously within one year with nerve tissue or within three years with Fleury strain vaccine, it is recommended that the animal be revaccinated and restrained by a leash or confined at home for 30 days.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Section 10, entitled "Emergency orders: action by director without prior notice," which immediately followed this section, was deleted at time of adoption of Code; see Chapter 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any dog or dogs, cats or other animals which by frequent howling, barking, baying or yelping shall disturb the peace of the neighborhood. Nor shall any dog of a vicious nature or disposition be allowed to attack or bite man or animal or cause annoyance to the neighborhood or persons using the public streets or chase, worry or molest livestock, other dogs or children or cause any damage or injury. Any dog exhibiting such tendencies shall be confined on a chain or tethers or other means to the owner's property, and notice of the presence of such dog or dogs shall be posted.
B. 
It shall also be unlawful for any person to keep any wild or venomous animals, such as bees, snakes, raccoons and the like, within the City of Greensburg unless said animals are confined and kept under control at all times.
[Added 8-10-1981 by Ord. No. 1140]
C. 
If upon violation and conviction of this section it shall appear to the District Justice that it is necessary for the public safety that the animal or animals be euthanized, the District Justice shall so order, and the police officer or Humane Officer of the City of Greensburg shall execute said order.
[Amended 8-10-1981 by Ord. No. 1140]
[Amended 6-12-1978 by Ord. No. 1048; 12-21-1994 by Ord. No. 1646; 9-11-2000 by Ord. No. 1807]
A. 
It shall be the duty of the owner or keeper of all dogs or other domestic animals in the City of Greensburg to restrain his dogs or other animals and to keep the dogs or other animals from depositing fecal matter on the streets, sidewalks or property of persons other than the owner or keeper of the dogs or other animals.
B. 
It shall be the duty of the owner or keeper of all felines (cats), that in the event that the owner or keeper would choose to have said animal to go outside the confines of his home, to have said feline spayed or neutered and to have current rabies shots.
[Amended 12-21-1994 by Ord. No. 1646]
The provisions of this chapter shall not be deemed to conflict with the Pennsylvania Dog Law of 1983 (3 P.S. § 459-101 et seq.), but shall be in addition to the provisions of said law.
A. 
Whenever the Director determines that there has been a violation of any provisions of this chapter or of any regulation issued thereunder, he shall give notice of the alleged violations in the manner provided in this section to the person responsible for compliance under this chapter.
B. 
The notice shall:
(1) 
Be in writing.
(2) 
Include a statement of the reasons why it is being issued
(3) 
Specify a reasonable time for the performance of any act it requires.
(4) 
Inform the person responsible for compliance of his right to a hearing.
C. 
The notice shall be served upon the persons responsible:
(1) 
By sending a copy to his last known address by registered mail, postage prepaid, accompanied with a request for a return receipt; or, if service cannot be accomplished in this manner,
(2) 
By posting a copy in a conspicuous place in or about the dwelling.
Any person aggrieved by a notice may request and shall be granted a hearing. The person requesting a hearing shall, within 10 days from the day the notice was served, file in the office of the Director a petition for a hearing on forms provided by the department. A time and place for the hearing shall be set and the petitioner given written notice thereof.
In the event of the failure to comply with an order issued pursuant to any section of this chapter, the Director may institute appropriate actions or proceedings at law or in equity to restrain, correct or abate the violation of the order, or he may cause the order to be carried out at the expense of the City of Greensburg.
[Amended 12-21-1994 by Ord. No. 1646]
Unless otherwise provided in 3 P.S. § 455.1 et seq. and 3 P.S. § 459-101 et seq., any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall, for every offense, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $600 or to be imprisoned for a period of not more than 90 days, or both, at the discretion of the court. The unauthorized removal of notices or orders shall constitute a violation of this chapter.