[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Ridley Park 7-12-1988 by Ord. No.
1023. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 5-20-2008 by Ord. No. 1179]
Any animal not in control (as defined in this chapter) shall
be deemed to be running at large. It is unlawful for the owner of
any animal to allow an animal to be running at large. Any animal running
at large shall be impounded by the ACO and a transportation fee will
be charged to the owner along with a fine for the violation. The animal
will be transported to the SPCA or licensed kennel or holding area
of the ACO's choice.
[Added 5-20-2008 by Ord.
No. 1179]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meaning indicated:
Any animate being except a human endowed with the power of
voluntary motion.
Hereinafter called "ACO." Any person or legal entity with
whom the Borough enters into a contract for the control of animals
in the Borough, who shall enforce the Borough's Animal Ordinance and
applicable state law. For purposes of this chapter, any employee of
a legal entity hired by the Borough to enforce this chapter shall
also be considered an ACO.
An animal is in control if it is either:
Every person(s) having a right to, proprietorship of, care
of and/or custody of a dog, cat, or other animal and every person(s)
who keeps or harbors a dog, cat or other animal which remains on or
about any property occupied by such person(s).
An animal shall be deemed to be running at large if it is
elsewhere than in or on the property of the owner and not under the
care or control of the owner and/or his agent, or if it is elsewhere
than in or on the property of the owner without the knowledge, consent
or approval of the owner and/or his agent. An animal is deemed to
be running at large if it is not in control as defined in this chapter.
[Amended 5-20-2008 by Ord. No. 1179]
No owner and/or a person having possession, custody or control
of an animal shall allow said animal to defecate upon any gutter,
street, driveway, alley, curb, or sidewalk in the Borough or upon
floors or stairways of any building or place frequented by the public
or used in common by the tenants or upon the outside walls, walkways,
driveways, alleys, curbs, or stairways of any building abutting on
the public street or parks or upon the grounds of any public area
or upon private property other than the property of the owner of such
animal. Any owner and or person, having possession, custody or control
of such animal shall be required to immediately remove said feces
and deposit it in a nonleaking bag/container and carry same away for
lawful disposal.
Any person having possession, custody or control of any dog or other animal which commits a nuisance, that is, defecates on any area other than the private property of the person who owns, has custody of or controls such dog or other animal, as prohibited in § 88-2 above, shall be required to immediately remove any feces from such surface and either:
[Amended 4-13-1999 by Ord. No. 1093; 5-20-2008 by Ord. No. 1179]
A.
No owner
shall allow an animal to disturb the peace and quiet of the neighborhood
by excessive barking and/or howling and/or creating other nuisance
noises.
B.
"Excessive"
barking and/or howling and/or creating other nuisance noises shall
be defined as barking and/or howling and/or creating other nuisance
noises which persists continuously for more than 30 minutes. A member
of the Ridley Park Borough Police Department or the ACO may issue
a citation to the owner of the animal which is violating this section.
C.
If a member
of the Borough Police Department or the ACO is not present at the
time of the violation, a citation will be issued by the appropriate
officials if an individual witnessing a violation of this section
files a signed and verified complaint with the Borough and they agree
to appear to testify at the hearing on the citation.
[Added 5-20-2008 by Ord.
No. 1179]
An owner of an animal shall not allow the animal to damage any
buildings, lawns, shrubbery, gardens, or other property. An owner
of an animal is responsible for any damage caused by the animal to
any buildings, lawns, shrubbery, gardens or other property.
[Added 5-20-2008 by Ord.
No. 1179]
An owner of an animal shall not allow the animal to scatter,
spill or otherwise disturb any trash or refuse placed or stored for
municipal collection. An owner of an animal is responsible of the
animal scatters, spills or otherwise disturbs any trash or refuse
placed or stored for municipal collection.
[Amended 5-21-2014 by Ord. No. 2-2014]
A.
Upon recommendation of the Health Officer, the Board of Health may
limit the number of dogs and/or other animals in any dwelling unit
if a health hazard or public nuisance is found to exist.
[Added 5-21-2014 by Ord.
No. 2-2014]
It shall be unlawful to keep live chickens, turkeys, geese, pigeon or other fowl and nondomesticated animals outside of any residence building and/or within 150 feet of any neighboring property line within the limits of the Borough. Any person or persons violating this section shall be subject to the penalties provided for in § 88-11, as amended.
[Added 5-21-2014 by Ord.
No. 2-2014]
It shall be unlawful to keep swine, sheep, goats, cattle, ponies, or horses within the limits of the Borough. Any person violating this section shall be subject to the penalties provided for in § 88-11, as amended.
[Amended 5-20-2008 by Ord. No. 1179]
An owner of an animal shall not allow an animal to injure a
human being or other animal. An owner of an animal is responsible
for any injury caused by the animal to any human being or other animal.
If an animal bites a human being or other animal, the owner of the
animal which has bitten a human being or other animal must notify
the ACO within 24 hours of the incident. At the ACO's discretion,
the animal which has bitten will be quarantined for a period of not
less than 10 days unless the animal cannot be confined to the ACO's
satisfaction, then the ACO will seize said animal for veterinarian
inspection and additional quarantining at the expense of the animal's
owner.
[Added 5-20-2008 by Ord.
No. 1179]
No person shall own, keep or harbor any dog within the Borough
unless such dog is licensed as required by the Dog Law of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, as amended from time to time.[1] Any dog, not in or on the property of the owner, while
within the Borough, must wear the identification tag required buy
state law such that the tag is visible for inspection by a Borough
Police Officer or the ACO.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 3 P.S. § 459-101 et seq.
A.
The seizure and detention of licensed dogs, costs in connection therewith
and the destruction of licensed dogs shall conform to the provisions
of Section 302 of the Pennsylvania Dog Law, 3 P.S. § 459-302.
A.
ANIMAL
OWN
OWNER
VACCINATION
VETERINARIAN
Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
A dog or other mammal susceptible to rabies.
To keep, harbor or have control, charge or custody of an
animal.
Any person who has the right of property in an animal, keeps
or harbors an animal, has it in his care or allows it to remain on
or about any premises occupied by him.
Inoculation with a rabies vaccine licensed by the United
States Department of Agriculture.
A graduate of an accredited school of veterinary medicine
who is licensed to practice in the commonwealth.
B.
Reporting person bitten by animal. Any person having knowledge that
an animal has bitten or injured any person in the Borough shall immediately
report the facts, including the whereabouts of such animal, if known,
to the Board of Health. The owner of such animal shall confine it
immediately for 10 days, as directed by the Board. The animal shall
be examined within 48 hours by a veterinarian, and a written report
of such examination, on forms supplied by the Board, shall be submitted
by the owner to the Board. If at any time during this ten-day confinement
the animal becomes ill, escapes or dies, such fact shall be communicated
immediately by the owner or veterinarian to the Board. The animal
shall be moved immediately to a veterinary hospital or other approved
location, as directed by the Board. At the end of the ten-day confinement,
the animal shall be reexamined by a veterinarian, and a written report
of findings shall be submitted by the owner to the Board within 48
hours. If the reexamination reveals no symptoms of rabies, the animal
may then be released from confinement.
C.
Reporting animal bitten by rabid animal.
(1)
Any person who has knowledge that an animal in the Borough has been
bitten by or otherwise exposed to another animal infected or suspected
of being infected with rabies shall report the facts immediately,
including the whereabouts of such animal, if known, to the Board of
Health.
(2)
If the animal which was bitten or otherwise exposed to rabies has
not been vaccinated in accordance with prescribed requirements, such
animal shall be confined immediately and placed in a veterinary hospital
or other approved location, under the supervision of a veterinarian,
for a minimum of six months or shall be immediately disposed of, as
directed by the Board.
(3)
If the animal which was bitten or otherwise exposed to rabies has
been vaccinated in accordance with prescribed requirements, the following
actions may be taken:
D.
Reporting animals infected with rabies. Any person who has knowledge
that an animal in the Borough is infected with or suspected of being
infected with rabies shall report the facts immediately, including
the whereabouts of such animal, if known, to the Board of Health.
Any animal suspected of being infected with rabies shall be removed
by the owner and confined immediately in a veterinary hospital or
other approved location, and such animal shall not be released therefrom
without the permission of the Board. An animal infected with rabies
shall be disposed of as directed by the Board.
E.
Rabies vaccination required.
(1)
No owner of an animal shall harbor/keep any animal which is more
than six months of age and is not currently vaccinated for rabies.
An animal must be tagged to confirm current vaccination. Said tag
must be visible on the animal's collar such that the tag is visible
for inspection by a Borough Police Officer or the ACO.
[Amended 10-21-2003 by Ord. No. 1131; 5-20-2008 by Ord. No. 1179]
(2)
The owner of each unvaccinated animal temporarily brought into the
Borough for any purpose shall arrange for a vaccination against rabies
within 30 days of first entry at any point in the county.
(3)
Each veterinarian, at the time of vaccinating any animal, shall complete
a certificate of rabies vaccination, in triplicate, which shall include
the following:
(a)
The owner's name and address.
(b)
The description of the animal (breed, sex, markings, age and
name).
(c)
The date of the vaccination.
(d)
The rabies vaccination tag number.
(e)
The type of vaccine administered.
(f)
The manufacturer's serial number of the vaccine.
(g)
The due date for revaccination.
(4)
The original certificate of rabies vaccination shall be delivered
to the Board, the first copy shall be delivered to the owner, and
the second copy shall be retained by the issuing veterinarian. The
veterinarian shall furnish to the owner, together with a copy of the
certificate, a metal or durable plastic tag stating the date of vaccination,
the tag number and the veterinarian's name. A vaccination tag shall
be affixed to the collar or harness and be worn by the animal.
F.
Preparation of animal for laboratory analysis. For the purpose of
control in case an animal is suspected of being infected with rabies
or if one dies for any reason during quarantine and requires laboratory
analysis, the owner or any person designated to act for the owner
shall engage a veterinarian to prepare the suspected animal for shipment
to any approved laboratory for the purpose of determining rabies infection.
G.
Costs to owner. The cost of examination, vaccination, impounding
and preparation of any animal for laboratory analysis shall be borne
by the owner of such animal.
[Amended 10-21-2003 by Ord. No. 1131]
All police officers of the Borough of Ridley Park, the Board
of Health, any authorized assistants thereof and any other person
designated by the Borough Council of the Borough of Ridley Park shall
have the authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
[Added 5-20-2008 by Ord.
No. 1179]
Any person who shall interfere with the ACO in the performance
of his/her duties under this chapter, or who shall attempt to prevent
the ACO from seizing or capturing any animal, or who shall attempt
to liberate any animal in the custody and possession of the ACO, shall
be guilty of a summary offense and, upon conviction before the District
Justice, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $100 and
not more than $500.
[Amended 1-10-1989 by Ord. No. 1027; 5-20-2008 by Ord. No. 1179]
A.
Any person
who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction
thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $100 and costs of
prosecution for the first violation. Upon default of payment of fines
and costs, the penalty shall be doubled.
B.
Any and
all subsequent violations of any provision of this chapter by the
same owner shall result in a sentence of a fine not less than $300
and not exceeding $600. Upon default of payment of fines and costs,
the penalty shall be doubled.
