This article is enacted to regulate the maintenance, keeping or possession of animals within the Township of Springfield in order to promote the health, safety and general welfare of its inhabitants. Where the provisions of this article impose greater restrictions than those of any other ordinances, regulation or resolution, the provisions of this article shall be controlling. Where the provisions of any other ordinances, such as Chapter 114, Zoning, or regulation impose greater restrictions than this article, the provisions of such other ordinance or regulation shall be controlling.
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation
and enforcement of this article:
Includes not only animals so called, but also birds, fish,
reptiles and insects.
The Board of Commissioners.
A collection of animals not listed in § 5-3 of this article kept in cages or enclosures for exhibition by a full-time professional trainer.
Any individual, partnership, association, corporation, estate
or trust, as well as all officers, agents, servants, employees or
others acting for any of the same, and shall be taken as applying
in the singular or plural, as the case may require.
A retail shop primarily in the business of selling animals and maintaining, keeping or possessing any animal for which a permit may be issued by the Board under § 5-4 hereto at any time during the calendar year or any part thereof.
A collection of animals not listed in § 5-3 of this article maintained in a park or garden by an educational, nonprofit or governmental corporation under the supervision of at least one professional zoologist.
Any person is permitted to maintain, keep or possess within
the Township of Springfield any of the following animals, which classifications
shall be strictly construed:
A.
Cage
birds (the term includes parakeets, parrots, canaries, finches, love
birds, mynah birds and other birds ordinarily kept in cages in households;
it excludes wild birds captured or rescued and kept in cages).
B.
Cats
(Felis catus).
C.
Cows
(Bos taurus), beef and dairy; subject to zoning.
D.
Frogs
(Salientia).
E.
Dogs
(Canis familiaris), including prairie but excepting dingoes.
F.
Goats
(Capra hircus), subject to zoning.
G.
Goldfish
and carp (Cyprinidae).
H.
Guinea
pigs (Cavia cobaya).
I.
Hamsters
(Cricetus and Mesocricetus).
J.
Horses
and ponies (Equus caballus), subject to zoning.
K.
Lizard
(Sauria).
L.
Mice,
white (Mus musculus).
M.
Mink,
subject to zoning.
N.
Poultry
(ducks, chickens, swans, geese, turkeys, guinea fowl and pigeons kept
for show or racing), subject to zoning.
O.
Rabbits,
restricted to European-type rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), commonly
kept as pets or livestock.
P.
Rats,
white (Rattus norvegicus).
Q.
Salamanders
(any tailed amphibian).
R.
Sheep
(Ovis aries), subject to zoning.
S.
Snakes,
nonpoisonous and native to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
T.
Toads
(Salientia).
U.
Tropical
fish, limited to those customarily maintained in a household aquarium
except piranhas.
V.
Turtles
(Chelonia).
W.
Llamas
and alpacas (Lama), subject to zoning.
X.
Ferrets
(Mustela furo).
A.
No person other than a registered veterinarian in the course of his professional duties is permitted to maintain, keep or possess within the Township of Springfield any animal not specifically mentioned in § 5-3 hereof unless application for a permit shall have been made by such person to the Board of Commissioners and a permit shall have been issued therefor. Any person who shall maintain, keep or possess an animal other than listed in § 5-3 hereof shall do so in accordance with all state and federal laws which govern the possession of said animals.
B.
The
application for a permit shall have attached thereto a registered
veterinarian's health certificate for each animal to be covered
by the permit and shall be certified by an affidavit and shall set
forth the following:
(1)
The type and number of animals to be covered by the permit.
(2)
The purpose of keeping such animals.
(3)
The period for which a permit is requested.
(4)
A description of the quarters in which the animals will be kept,
including plans and specifications thereof, where appropriate.
(5)
Circumstances, if any, under which the animals will be removed from
quarters.
(6)
Biographical information of the applicant and any other person to
be placed in charge of the animals, with particular emphasis on the
knowledge of such persons about the animals in question and experience
of such persons in handling the animals in question.
(7)
Such additional information as the Board of Commissioners may require.
A.
The
Board of Commissioners shall have the power to review or cause to
be reviewed each application for a permit and may either approve or
reject such application or require modification of the application.
When the Board has approved the application, the Chief of Police shall
issue the permit. The permit shall be personal and not transferable
and shall be issued for a calendar year or part thereof. The Chief
of Police, on advice of the Board, shall also have the power to revoke
a permit.
B.
The
Board of Commissioners shall make such rules and regulations as it
shall deem necessary to carry out the purpose of this article and,
on request of the Chief of Police, to determine whether any person
is violating any provisions of this article or the rules and regulations
adopted hereunder.
(1)
All animals and animal quarters shall be kept in clean and sanitary
condition, shall be provided with adequate ventilation and shall be
constructed and maintained so as to prevent the escape of the animal.
(2)
The holder of the permit shall use every reasonable precaution to
ensure that animals are not teased, abused, mistreated, annoyed, tormented
or in any manner made to suffer by any person or by any means.
(3)
Animals which are enemies by nature, or are temperamentally unsuited,
shall not be quartered together or so near each other as to cause
animals fear or to be abused, tormented or annoyed.
(4)
The holder of the permit shall maintain premises so as to eliminate
offensive odors or excessive noise.
(5)
The holder of the permit shall not permit any condition causing disturbance
of peace and quiet of his neighbors.
(6)
Animals must be maintained in quarters so constructed as to prevent
their escape. The permit holder assumes full responsibility for recapturing
any animal that escapes from his premises. The permit holder shall
make adequate provisions and safeguards to protect the public from
the animals.
(7)
Every person shall conform to all present and future laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States of America, the
ordinances of Springfield Township and the rules and regulations of
the Board in any way connected with animals, including specifically
anticruelty laws.
The Board of Commissioners may approve a permit for a zoological
garden or a menagerie, limiting the latter to no more than one month
in any one calendar year, if:
A.
The
Board is satisfied that the applicant and all other persons placed
in charge of such animals are experts in their knowledge of the care
and handling of such animals.
B.
The
highest standards are applied in safeguarding the public, and no human
being lives or resides within 100 feet of the quarters in which the
animals will be kept.
C.
The
applicant provides the Board with a certificate of public liability
insurance in form and amount satisfactory to the Board issued by a
carrier satisfactory to the Board.
Any person who violates any provisions of this article or of
any rules and regulations made pursuant hereto shall be liable, for
each offense, upon conviction before any court of jurisdiction, to
a fine of not more than $1,000, together with the costs of prosecution,
and each day's failure to comply with any such provision shall
constitute a separate violation. In addition, the township may institute
any appropriate action or proceeding, whether by legal process or
otherwise, to restrain, correct or abate a continuing violation of
any provision of this article or of any rules and regulations made
pursuant hereto.
