[Adopted 7-8-1996 by Ord. No. 8-1996 (Ch. 35, Art. II, of
the 1993 Code)]
It shall be unlawful to own, harbor, keep or maintain a cat
within the Township unless the owner thereof or the person or persons
harboring or maintaining the same shall exercise sufficient and proper
control and care over such animal at all times so as to prevent the
animal from becoming a public nuisance or otherwise violating this
article.
Within the meaning of this article, a cat shall be considered
a public nuisance if it has no known owner or custodian, or if it
has no known place of care or shelter, or if it habitually trespasses
upon or damages either public or private property or annoys, bites,
scratches or harms lawful users or occupants thereof, or if it frequently
or continually cries or emits other sounds disturbing to a person
of reasonable and ordinary sensitivity.
The Animal Control Officer or other person authorized by the
Township to enforce the provisions of this article shall, upon receipt
of a written complaint that a cat is a public nuisance, as defined
herein, seize the cat and keep it within the care and custody of an
animal shelter for a period of seven days, upon the date of the apprehension.
If any cat seized pursuant to the provisions of this article
bears any identification of ownership or place of abode, the Animal
Control Officer or other authorized enforcement official shall, on
the date of seizure, notify the owner or the occupant of the place
of abode that the animal has been seized and that it may be claimed
at a designated location, subject to the provisions of this article.
During the aforementioned seven-day custodial period, any cat
so impounded may be claimed by its owner upon payment to the animal
shelter of a reasonable fee for each day or portion thereof that the
cat remains in the custody of the animal shelter, determined periodically
by the shelter.
Any cat which has been seized pursuant to this article which
has not been reclaimed during the custodial period set forth herein
may be claimed by any person willing to assume the responsibility
of ownership. Otherwise, the cat may be disposed of by the animal
shelter, or other designated official by being put to death in as
humane a manner as possible.
It is unlawful for the owner or custodian of any cat to permit,
suffer or allow such cat to discharge its excreta upon any public
or private property other than the property of the owner or custodian,
unless the owner or custodian immediately removes such excreta and
disposes of it by placing it in a closed container or covered trash
receptacle.
[Amended 6-4-2007 by Ord. No. 12-2007]
A.
Each owner or custodian of a cat over the age of six months shall
register said cat with the Clerk of the Township and pay an annual
registration fee of $7 if the cat is spayed or neutered, or $9 if
the cat is not spayed or neutered. Upon payment of said registration
fee, the Clerk shall issue a registration tag. The owner or custodian
shall attach to such cat, by whatever means the owner shall consider
safe and humane, the identification tag, which identification tag
shall be carried by the cat at all times if it is off the owner's
property.
[Amended 6-13-2011 by Ord. No. 4-2011; 12-22-2014 by Ord. No. 22-2014]
B.
Late fee: $7.
Every owner or custodian of a cat which is off the owner's
property within the Township shall be required to have his or her
cat maintain a current rabies vaccination on the animal.
Violations of this article shall be punishable as follows:
A.
First offense in any twelve-month period: a fine of not more than
$35, which amount can be paid through the violations bureau without
a court appearance.
[Amended 9-12-2011 by Ord. No. 11-2011]
B.
Second offense in any twelve-month period: a fine of not more than
$75.
C.
Third or subsequent offense in any twelve-month period: a fine of
not more than $150.
