[Ord. 1466, 5/10/1983]
The following words, tense and phrases, when used in this Part, shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this Section except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning.
ANIMAL
All nonhuman mammals.
AT LARGE
An animal off the premises of its owner, not secured by a leash/lead, not under control of a responsible person and not obedient to that person's control.
CONFINEMENT
The physical securing of an animal within the limits of its owner's residence or, if taken outside the residence limits, an animal secured by a collar/harness and leash/lead and handled by a responsible person capable of controlling the animal.
OWNER
Any person owning or having custody of an animal residing in the Borough of Phoenixville. In cases of disputed ownership, the principal occupant of the premises in which the animal is residing shall be considered the owner of the animal. A resident of the Borough who allows an animal to reside continuously on his premises for more than 48 hours shall be considered the owner of the animal.
RABIES
An almost invariably fatal disease, unless adequately medicated, transmissible from animal to animal and from animal to humans.
SECOND (2ND) VIOLATION
A violation of this Part which is committed by a person within 24 months after he committed a previous violation of this Part.
THIRD (3RD) VIOLATION
A violation of this Part which is committed by a person within 24 months after he committed his 2nd violation of this Part.
VACCINATION
The medical practice of injecting a vaccine into an animal in order to immunize that animal against rabies.
VACCINATION CERTIFICATE
A document signed in triplicate by a licensed veterinarian containing at least the following information:
A. 
Animal owner's name and address.
B. 
Description of animal (breed, sex, coloring, age and name).
C. 
Date of vaccination and expiration date of vaccination.
D. 
Manufacturer's serial number of vaccine used.
E. 
Rabies vaccination tag number.
VACCINATION TAG
A metal or durable plastic plate containing the expiration date of the vaccination, the veterinarian's name and an identification number.
VETERINARIAN
A person licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The singular includes the plural and the masculine includes the feminine and the neuter in all places in this Part.
[Ord. 1466, 5/10/1983]
No person shall keep, own, harbor or have custody of a dog in the Borough of Phoenixville which is six months of age or older for longer than 14 days unless the dog has been vaccinated against rabies. No person shall keep, own, harbor or have custody of a dog whose vaccination certificate has expired.
[Ord. 1466, 5/10/1983]
The vaccination certificate, as defined herein, shall be distributed as follows:
Original — to dog-owner.
Duplicate — to Borough Health Officer.
Triplicate — retained by issuing veterinarian.
The vaccination tag, as defined herein, shall be issued by the veterinarian and affixed to the dog's collar/harness. It is the dog-owner's responsibility to keep the tagged collar or harness on the dog.
[Ord. 1466, 5/10/1983]
No person shall own, keep or harbor within the Borough of Phoenixville, Chester County Pennsylvania, any dog six months of age or older unless the dog is currently licensed by the Treasurer of Chester County, Pennsylvania and unless the dog wears a collar/harness bearing a current license tag. This provision is not intended to apply to dogs whose owners are nonresidents temporarily in the Borough nor to a seeing-eye or hearing dogs.
[Ord. 1466, 5/10/1983]
It is the duty of the Borough's Animal Control Officer (dog catcher) and Phoenixville Police Officers to impound any dog found "at large" and unlicensed or unvaccinated in violation of this Part. If the dog's owner can be ascertained and located, a citation shall be issued by the impounding officer. The dog may be released to its owner, after paying the stipulated impoundment fees to the Borough cashier, upon the condition that the dog owner shall abate the violations of this Part for which the citation was issued and presents documentary evidence of the abatement within one week of the dog's release from impoundment. Failure to provide the required evidence will necessitate surrender of the dog to the Animal Control Officer or police officer for humane disposition of the dog. Abatement hereunder does not provide a defense to any violation of the terms of this Part.
[Ord. 1466, 5/10/1983; as amended by A.O.]
Any person who violates any term or provision of this Part shall, upon conviction, be ordered to pay a fine not exceeding $1,000 plus all costs of prosecution, it being the expressed will of Borough Council that a fine be imposed of at least $50 for a first violation of this Part, of at least $100 for a 2nd violation of this Part and $1,000 for a 3rd violation of this Part. In default of payment of fines and costs, a term of imprisonment not exceeding 30 days shall be imposed. Provided, each day a violation shall be permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense.