[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township
of Hampton as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Adopted 4-26-1995 by Ord. No. 505 (Ch. 2, Part 1, of the
1995 Code of Ordinances)]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meaning indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from
the context:
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.
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.
A Dog Warden shall be appointed by the Township Council to serve
during its pleasure. Such Dog Warden along with the police officers
shall have concurrent responsibility for the enforcement of this article
and of the Dog Law of 1982, 3 P.S. § 459-101 et seq., as
hereafter amended, supplemented, modified or reenacted by the General
Assembly of Pennsylvania, and shall have all the powers and duties
of a Dog Warden under said Act; provided, that he shall not have the
power to make arrests under this Act of Assembly or any other Act
of Assembly or ordinance of the Township.
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.
The Dog Warden or any police officer or constable may seize
any dog found at large in the Township. Such dogs are to be impounded
in a licensed kennel.
The Chief of Police shall notify the owner of a licensed dog
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 shall 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.
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 as fixed by a resolution of the Township Council.
Any person allowing a dog 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 plus costs and, in default of payment,
to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days.
[Adopted 7-22-1998 by Ord. No. 560 (Ch. 2, Part 2, of the
1995 Code of Ordinances)]
A.
Any dog, cat or other animal which:
(1)
Is kept in a manner so as to create offensive odors or unsanitary
conditions which are a menace to the health, comfort or safety of
the public.
(2)
Habitually barks, howls, screeches, yelps or bays, thereby disturbing
the quiet of any person or the community.
(3)
Scratches, digs or defecates upon any lawn, tree shrub, plant, building
on any other public or private property other than the property of
the owner or person in charge or control of such animal is hereby
declared to be a nuisance.
B.
No person shall keep or harbor a dog, cat or other animal in a manner which constitutes a nuisance as defined in Subsection A above. No person shall permit a dog, cat or other animal to commit a nuisance upon any school grounds or other public property or upon any private property other than that of the owner or person in charge of such animal; provided, however, if the owner or person in charge of such animal immediately removes all feces deposited by such animal and disposes of same in a sanitary manner, such type of nuisance shall be considered abated.
C.
Any person with defective eyesight or hearing who relies upon a dog
specifically trained for such purposes shall be exempt from compliance
with this article.
Any person violating any provision of this article shall for
each and every violation, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to
pay a fine of no less than $75 and no more than $300, together with
court costs.
The Police Department and/or Code Enforcement Officer are hereby
authorized and directed to enforce the provisions of this article
and to file citations before the Magisterial District Judge enforcing
the same.
