All dogs kept in the Township of Nether Providence
must be licensed in compliance with the Dog Law of the commonwealth.
It shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian
of any dog, whether licensed or not, to fail to keep such dog at all
times either confined within an enclosure from which it cannot escape,
firmly secured by means of a collar and chain or other device so that
it cannot stray beyond the premises of the owner or custodian, or
under the personal control of and in close proximity, not to exceed
10 feet, to said owner or custodian.
It shall be the duty of such owner or custodian
of a dog which has bitten or injured any person to report such occurrence
immediately to the Township Police Department and to comply with the
provisions of the Pennsylvania State Dog Law, its amendments and supplements, and to pay all costs of
examination by a qualified veterinarian, and to comply with the orders
of the Township health officer and/or the Township Animal Control
Officer. In the absence of such compliance or, in the case of an unidentified
dog, the health officer and/or the Animal Control Officer shall have
such examination made as promptly as possible, and the owner or custodian
shall be liable to the Township for the costs thereof, to be collected
in any manner authorized by law.
The Township may employ an Animal Control Officer
and cause him to be sworn in as a special police officer under the
direction and control of the Chief of Police, to whom such special
officer shall report. In addition, it shall be the duty of each policeman
of the Township to aid in the enforcement of this chapter. An officer
may go upon any premises and into any building, other than one occupied
as a private dwelling, and there seize any dog that is subject to
apprehension under the terms of this chapter, when such officer is
in immediate pursuit of such dog.
Violations of the provisions of this chapter against permitting dogs to run at large shall be subject to the specific voluntary penalties set forth in §
115-6A(2) and
B(2), whichever is applicable. Violations brought before a District Justice or other court shall be punishable as provided in Chapter
1, General Provisions, Art.
II, Violations and Penalties, §
1-17, Other violations. Township authorities or any person injured in his person or property in consequence of a violation of this chapter may institute prosecutions hereunder.