[Ord. 1270-02, 11/12/2002, § 1; as amended by Ord.
1354-08, 11/10/2008]
As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings
hereby respectively ascribed thereto, except where the context clearly
indicates a different meaning:
Any animal scientifically known as "Felis catus," kept by
an owner as a household pet or kept by an owner for rodent control.
Any unreasonable noise caused by a cat which disturbs the
peace or otherwise disrupts and causes an annoyance to any residents
of the Borough.
Any person owning, keeping, feeding, harboring or having
custody of a cat. Any person who allows a cat to reside or remain
about his or her premises shall be considered a cat owner.
[Ord. 1270-02, 11/12/2002, § 1; as amended by Ord.
1354-08, 11/10/2008]
1.
It shall be unlawful for any owner to have any cat that becomes a
nuisance within the limits of the Borough of Gettysburg. Acts of nuisance
shall include but is expressly not restricted to the following:
A.
Noise disturbance as defined herein.
B.
Viciousness.
C.
Digging in flower beds, lawns, children's sandboxes, gardens
or the damaging of shrubbery, trees, lawns or personal property not
belonging to the owner of the cat, or the depositing of feces on property
not belonging to the owner of the cat.
2.
No owner shall permit his or her cat to enter upon any area designated
as a public park or playground.
[Ord. 1270-02, 11/12/2002, § 1; as amended by Ord.
1354-08, 11/10/2008]
1.
The Gettysburg Borough Police Department or the person or agency
designated by the Borough Council of the Borough of Gettysburg shall
enforce the provisions of this Part. Upon receipt of a written complaint
that a cat is a nuisance, a Borough police officer or other officer
of the Borough will investigate said complaint, and, if found to be
legitimate, the officer shall authorize the seizure of the cat by
the issuance to the complainant of a humane-type cat trap to enable
the trapping of the cat.
2.
The person who is issued the trap and who is authorized to set the
trap must notify the Borough Police Department immediately after a
cat is trapped. An officer of the Police Department or the person
or agency designated by the Borough Council of the Borough will transport
and deliver the cat to the Adams County SPCA for holding. If the SPCA
refuses to take the animal, the cat will be delivered to a veterinarian
contracted with by the Borough and held for 72 hours prior to being
disposed of in a humane manner. If the cat so apprehended bears any
identification of ownership, the Police Department shall, on the date
of apprehension, notify the owner that the animal has been apprehended
and that it may be claimed at the designated location, subject to
the provisions of this Part.
3.
Any cat may be claimed by its owner at the Adams County SPCA or at
the office of the veterinarian contracted with by the Borough during
the custodial period, and the owner shall pay all costs for the care,
maintenance and disposal of said cat at the prevailing rate of the
SPCA and/or the veterinarian.
4.
Any cat which has been apprehended pursuant to this chapter and which
has not been reclaimed during the custodial period may be disposed
of in a humane manner in accordance with standards generally followed
by the SPCA or as followed by the veterinarian contracted with by
the Borough.
[Ord. 1270-02, 11/12/2002, § 1; as amended by Ord.
1354-08, 11/10/2008]
There shall be no limit to the number of cats kept by an owner.
However, all cats must be neutered and properly cared for by their
owner in compliance with the provisions of this Part.
[Ord. 1270-02, 11/12/2002, § 1; as amended by Ord.
1354-08, 11/10/2008]
If the owner of a cat or cats in violation of this Part does
not comply with a notice to abate the violation within the time period
described, the Borough shall have the authority to take measures to
abate the violation and collect the costs of such abatement plus 10%
of all costs to be added to the total as an administration fee. The
Borough, by its duly designated officers, in such event and pursuant
to its statutory or otherwise authorized police powers, shall have
the rights and power to enter upon the offending premises to accomplish
the foregoing. The enforcement authority of this provision shall contain
the right to use all other enforcement provisions of this chapter.
[Ord. 1270-02, 11/12/2002, § 1; as amended by Ord.
1354-08, 11/10/2008]
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep or harbor any
cat which has been found to violate the provisions of this Part. Any
person found to violate the provisions of this Part shall, upon conviction
thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000.
