As used in this article, the following terms have the meaning
indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
OWNER
Any person having a right of property in any dog or having
custody of any dog, or any person who harbors or permits a dog 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 or under the control of the owner
or any other person having custody of said dog.
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog or dogs to allow
or permit such dog or dogs to run at large in the Township.
Any police officer or dog warden may seize any dog found at
large in Township. Such dogs are to be impounded in a licensed kennel.
Owners of licensed dogs are to be notified by registered or
certified mail, with return receipt, that the dog is impounded and
will be disposed of in five days if not claimed. Five days after the
return receipt has been received, and the dog has not been claimed,
the dog may be sold or destroyed in accordance with the 1982 Dog Law.
Unlicensed dogs that are seized are to be held in such kennel
for 48 hours and, if not claimed, may be destroyed in accordance with
the 1982 Dog Law.
Dogs that, in the opinion of any police officer or dog warden,
constitute a threat to public health and welfare may be killed by
the police or dog warden.
[Amended 8-15-1988 by Ord. No. 867]
A. The first two times a dog is seized, the owner shall pay a fine of
$15 to the Township as well as reasonable fees for keeping the animal
in a kennel.
B. Any person allowing an animal to run at large a third time in violation
of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay
a fine of not more than $600; and/or to imprisonment for a term not
to exceed 30 days.
[Added 7-21-2016 by Ord.
No. 1103]
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to tether, fasten, chain, tie,
restrain or cause an unattended dog to be fastened, chained, tied
or restrained to houses, trees, fences, garages, stakes or other stationary
or highly immobile objects by means of a rope, chain, strap or other
physical restraint for the purpose of confinement, except in circumstances
where all of the following requirements are satisfied:
(1) The tethering is not for a period exceeding 45 minutes, as long as
the dog is not in danger or a nuisance or does not put the public
in danger, except in extreme weather conditions addressed below; and
(2) The tether is attached to the dog by a non-choke-type collar and
attached to the stationary object by swivel anchors, latches, or similar
devices in a manner which prevents the tether from becoming entangled
around any object so as to limit the dog's freedom within the tethered
area, or to prevent the dog, or any of its appendages, from becoming
entangled by the tether; and
(3) The tether must be of a type commonly used for the size of the dog
involved and if the tether is a chain, it may not be thicker than
one-half of an inch; and
(4) The tether shall be at least three times the length of the dog as
measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail, but no
less than 10 feet in length and shall allow the dog convenient access
to the dog house; and
(5) The dog has easy access to:
(c)
Adequate shade and/or shelter within the tethered area.
(6) The dog is periodically monitored while tethered for the aforementioned
reasonable period of time; and
(7) The dog is not tethered outdoors during any period in which a severe
weather warning has been issued for Allegheny County by the National
Weather Service; and
(8) The dog is not tethered outdoors for a continuous period of time
greater than 1/2 hour if the temperature during such period remains
entirely either:
B. It shall be unlawful for any person to leave any dog outside and
unattended as follows:
(1) During any period in which a severe weather warning has been issued
for Allegheny County by the National Weather Service; and
(2) For a continuous period of time greater than 1/2 hour if the temperature
during such period remains entirely either:
(3) "Outside," for purposes of this section, shall mean any unattended
dog that is outside subject to the weather and elements, which expressly
includes, but is not limited to, a dog in a securely fenced-in yard
or a dog in a kennel. The dog shall be considered "outside" regardless
of access to an outdoor doghouse or similar structure.
C. The duly authorized enforcement agents of the Township of North Versailles
shall include the designated Township Dog Control Officer and Township
Code Enforcement Officer, who are the primary agents to enforce this
section. Additionally, North Versailles Township police officers and
all of those vested with the authority as an enforcement officer or
agent under the Pennsylvania Animal Cruelty Law are also permitted
to enforce this section. The Township expressly reserves the right
to appoint by resolution any additional agents of the Township to
enforce the provisions of this section.
D. The Township's designated enforcement agents and police authority
having jurisdiction, the Humane Society agent(s), or any officer,
employee or agent of the Township, is hereby authorized to notify
any owner or occupant of any premises in violation of this section,
either personally or by posting such notice upon the premises, that
such owner must bring the outdoor dog tethering violation into compliance
with this section within one day of receipt of such notice. Upon the
failure of such owner or occupant to bring his or her tethering situation
into compliance with this section within such period of time, any
of the foregoing individuals authorized by the Township to enforce
this section are hereby authorized to enter upon such premises and
to temporarily remove such dog from the property.
E. Any removed dog will be held at the Animal Rescue League or other
designated or authorized facility. Prior to any hearing regarding
the violation, such dog owner may regain possession of any confiscated
dog upon an adequate showing that his or her tethering situation has
been brought into compliance with this section. No confiscated dog
shall be considered surrendered to the confiscating party unless expressly
surrendered by the dog owner or adjudicated as forfeited as provided
in the Pennsylvania Animal Cruelty Law after a hearing on the matter.
F. Any person who violates any provision of this section shall commit
a summary offense, and shall, upon being found guilty by a Magisterial
District Judge, after hearing, pay a fine not to exceed $600, together
with all enforcement and shelter costs in the event a dog must be
confiscated, and all court costs as permitted by law. Each day of
violation shall constitute a separate offense, which shall be subject
to prosecution as such. Enforcement and prosecution of any violation
of this section may be conducted by the Township as provided herein
or by its agent and counsel as provided in the Pennsylvania Animal
Cruelty Law.
G. If any provision of this section is found to be invalid by a court
of competent jurisdiction, then it is the intent of the Board of Commissioners
that it would have ordained the balance of this section irrespective
of such invalid portion.
H. This section will take effect immediately.