The following words shall have the following meanings when used
in this chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
ANIMAL
All nonhuman vertebrate and invertebrate species, whether
wild or domestic, commonly considered to be part of the animal kingdom.
OWNER
Any person having a right of property in any animal or having
custody of any animal or any person who harbors or permits an animal
to remain on or around his or her property.
RUNNING AT LARGE
Being upon any public highway, street, alley, park or any
other public land or upon property of another person other than the
owner and not being accompanied by and under the control of the owner
or any other person having custody of said animal.
WILD OR EXOTIC ANIMAL
A.
Any animal of a species prohibited by Title 50 of the Code Federal
Regulations, or otherwise controlled by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
It shall include any animal which is wild, fierce, dangerous, noxious
or naturally inclined to do harm.
B.
Wild animals, however domesticated, shall also include but not
be limited to:
(1)
Dog family (Canidae): all, except domesticated dogs, including
wolves, foxes, coyotes, dingoes, etc.
(2)
Cat family (Felidae): all, except commonly accepted domestic
cats, including lions, pumas, panthers, mountain lions, leopards,
jaguars, ocelots, margays, tigers, wild cats, etc.
(3)
Bears (Usidae): all bears, including grizzly bears, brown bears,
black bears, etc.
(4)
Weasels (Mustelidae): all, including weasels, martens, mink,
wolverines, ferrets, badgers, otters, ermines, mongooses, etc.
(5)
Raccoons (Procyonidae): all raccoons and civets.
(6)
Primates (Hominidae): all subhuman primates.
(7)
Porcupine (Erethizontidae): all porcupines.
(9)
Snakes: all venomous and constricting snakes.
(11)
Crocodilians: all alligators, caimans, crocodiles, gavials,
etc.
(12)
Venomous fish and piranha.
It shall be unlawful for any person owning, harboring or possessing
any animal to permit said animal to run at large at any time upon
any of the streets, roads, highways, or public grounds in the Township
or upon the property of another person other than the owner, custodian
or keeper of such animal. Any animal not penned or leashed or attended
by or under the immediate personal control and supervision of its
owner or some person capable of controlling said animal at all times
shall be deemed to be running at large.
No person owning, possessing, harboring or controlling any animal
shall permit said animal to bark, bay, cry, squawk or make any other
noise continuously and/or incessantly for a period of 10 minutes or
make such noise intermittently for one-half hour or more to the disturbance
of any other person.
It shall be the duty of any Township police officer or of any
person duly appointed as the enforcement officer pursuant to this
chapter who witnesses any animal running at large in violation of
this chapter or who receives information of any animal running at
large to seize such animal and to convey it to the place designated
by the Board as a pound. Notice of such seizure shall be sent to the
owner of such animal, if identifiable, in the manner prescribed by
law, and such animal may be redeemed by the owner thereof within the
time specified by law upon payment of the costs incurred by reason
of seizure and detention. Rates for seizure and detention and for
other charges shall be those set forth in the Warwick Township Fee
Schedule. Any animal seized shall be disposed of pursuant to §
63-5 if the owner of the animal is unknown.
Any Township police officer or any person duly appointed as
the enforcement officer pursuant to this chapter is hereby authorized
to dispose of any animal which has not been claimed by its owner by
delivery of the animal to a recognized humane society. In the event
that it becomes necessary to destroy any animal, the procedure must
be carried out in a humane manner. No animal may be sold for use in
research such as vivisection.
A record of any animal seized shall be kept which shall show
the breed, date seized, where and by whom seized, date of disposition
and nature of disposition.
Except as may be otherwise provided in 3 P.S. § 459-101
et seq., any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this
chapter shall, upon summary conviction before a District Judge, be
sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $1,000,
plus the charges for the maintenance of said animal and the costs
of prosecution. In default of the payment of said fine, charges or
costs, said person shall be sentenced to undergo imprisonment in the
Bucks County Prison for a period not exceeding 30 days. Each day that
a violation occurs shall constitute a separate offense. All fines
collected for the violation of this chapter shall be to and for the
use of the Township. If deemed appropriate by the enforcement official,
a warning may be issued prior to issuance of a summary citation.
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to limit
or restrict the authority to destroy animals in accordance with any
statute of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.