This chapter is enacted to prohibit and to regulate the maintenance,
keeping and possession of animals within the Borough in order to promote
the health, safety and general welfare of its inhabitants.
Where the provisions of this chapter impose greater restrictions
than those of any other ordinance, regulation or resolution, the provisions
of this chapter shall be controlling. Where the provisions of any
other ordinance impose greater restrictions than this chapter, the
provisions of such other ordinance shall be supplemental to any laws
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereinbefore or hereinafter adopted
covering animals within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and specifically
in the Borough. Should any of the provisions of this chapter be contrary
to the provisions of any act of assembly, it is the intent that the
act of assembly shall supersede this chapter. Should any section or
provisions of this chapter be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction
to be invalid, such section or provision shall not affect the validity
of the chapter as a whole or any other part thereof.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ANIMAL
Construed in a broad sense to include not only animals so
called but also birds, fish, reptiles, insects, hogs, dogs, cats,
pets, livestock and fowl.
KENNEL
Any lot in which animals are kept, boarded or trained for
a fee, whether or not in special buildings or runways, including but
not limited to dog and cat kennels, or any lot in which more than
three animals are kept for the purpose of breeding, sale or show purposes.
MENAGERIE
A collection of animals not listed in §
113-5 which are kept in cages or enclosures for exhibition by a full-time professional trainer.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, association, corporation, estate
or trust, as well as all officers, agents, servants, employees or
others acting for any of the same, and shall be taken as applying
in the singular or plural, as the case may require.
PET SHOP
A retail shop primarily in the business of selling animals
and maintaining, keeping or possessing any animal for which a permit
may be issued by the Animal Control Officer at any time during the
calendar year or any part thereof.
ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN
A collection of animals not listed in §
113-5 which are maintained in a park by an educational, nonprofit or governmental corporation under the supervision of at least one professional zoologist.
Any owner, person, firm, association or corporation utilizing
the services of an animal or animals for security purposes or possessing
an animal as a pet shall be responsible for the quieting of said animal
or animals from barking and/or howling and disturbing the peace and
quiet of the surrounding neighbors.
It shall be lawful for any person to keep any horses, sheep,
goats or cattle anywhere in the Borough only if the following conditions
are strictly adhered to:
A. The area of the lot on which such animals are kept shall be no less
than five acres;
B. There shall be no violation of any provision of the Borough's
Zoning Ordinance, as amended;
C. A barn, stable or similar roofed building shall be provided on the
premises for such animals, and such building shall be located at least
100 feet from any street, at least 100 feet from any inhabited dwelling
and at least 100 feet from any property line. Such building shall
be kept clean, and any filth accumulating therein shall be removed
at least once every 24 hours or oftener if so ordered by the Borough
Health Officer, the Borough Council or the Animal Control Officer;
D. Such animals shall not be permitted to run at large outside the confines
of the premises of the owner thereof.
It shall be lawful for any person to keep pigeons and rabbits
anywhere in the Borough only if the following conditions are strictly
adhered to:
A. There shall be no violation of any provision of the Borough's
Zoning Ordinance, as amended;
B. Such pigeons and rabbits shall at all times be confined to pens which
shall be constructed out of doors and shall be at least 30 feet from
any street and at least 30 feet from any inhabited dwelling. All such
pens shall be constructed so that the floors shall be not less than
two feet from the ground. All filth accumulating in, about and under
the same shall be removed at least once every 24 hours and oftener
if so ordered by the Borough Health Officer, Borough Council or Animal
Control Officer;
C. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this chapter, in no event
shall any person keep or maintain more than a total of three rabbits
or pigeons within the Borough of Leetsdale.
No person is permitted to maintain, keep or possess within the
Borough any of the following animals, which classification shall be
broadly construed:
B. Apes: chimpanzees (Pan), gibbons (Hylobates), gorillas (Gorilla),
orangutans (Pongo) and siamangs (Symphalangus);
C. Baboons (Papio, mandrillus);
F. Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus);
H. Crocodilians (Crocodilia) 30 inches in length or more;
I. Deer (Cervidae), includes all members of the deer family, for example,
white-tailed deer, elk, antelopes, moose;
J. Elephants (Elephas and Loxodonta);
K. Game cocks, i.e., fighting birds;
L. Hippopotamuses (Hippopotamidae);
P. Leopards (Panthera pardus);
S. Monkeys, old world (Cercopithecidae);
V. Piranha fish (Characidae);
W. Poultry (ducks, chickens, swans, geese, turkeys and guinea fowl), except as permitted in §
113-5;
X. Pumas (Felis concolor), also known as "cougars," "mountain lions"
and "panthers";
Y. Rhinoceroses (Rhinocerotidae);
Z. Sharks (class Chondrichthyes);
AA. Snakes which are poisonous, nonpoisonous or constrictor;
BB. Snow leopards (Panthera uncia);
DD. Tigers (Panthera tigris);
It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain any pig and/or
hog pen or to maintain any kennel anywhere in the Borough.
No individual other than a registered veterinarian in the course of his professional duties is permitted to maintain, keep or possess within the Borough any animal not specifically mentioned in §
113-5 hereof unless application for a permit shall have been made by such person to the Animal Control Officer and a permit shall have been issued therefor. Among such animals for which a permit may be issued by the Animal Control Officer are the following:
B. Crocodilians (Crocodilia) under 30 inches in length, includes baby
alligators and caimans;
C. Eagles (Aquila and Haliaeetus), subject to state and federal law;
D. Falcons (Falconidae), subject to state and federal law;
E. Foxes (Vulpes and Urocyon);
G. Jaguarundis (Herpailurus);
J. Monkeys: white-throated capuchins and other Cebus monkeys; night
monkeys or douroucoulis (Aotes); mare-mosets (Callimico), Callithrix
and Leontocebus; squirrel monkeys (Saimiri) and woolly monkeys (logothrix);
K. Ocelots (Felis paradalis);
Unless waived by the Animal Control Officer, the application
for a permit shall have attached thereto a registered veterinarian's
health certificate for each animal to be covered by the permit, shall
be verified by an affidavit and shall set forth the following:
A. The type and number of animals to be covered by the permit;
B. The purpose of keeping such animals;
C. The period for which the permit is requested;
D. A description of the quarters in which the animals will be kept,
including plans and specifications thereof, where appropriate;
E. The circumstances, if any, under which the animals will be removed
from their quarters;
F. Biographical information about the applicant and any other person
to be placed in charge of the animals, with particular emphasis on
the knowledge of such persons about the animals in question and the
experience of such persons handling the animals in question;
G. Such additional information as the Animal Control Officer may require which is reasonably related to standards set forth in §
113-16.
The Borough Council may approve a permit for a permanent zoological garden or a menagerie, limiting the latter to no more than one month in any one calendar year, which includes animals otherwise prohibited under §
113-12 hereof, provided that:
A. The Borough Council is satisfied that the applicant and all other
persons placed in charge of such animals are experts in their knowledge
of care and handling of such animals;
B. The highest standards are applied in safeguarding the public and
no human being lives or resides within 100 feet of the quarters in
which the animals will be kept;
C. The applicant provides the Borough Council with a certificate of
public liability insurance, in a form and amount satisfactory to Borough
Council, issued by a carrier satisfactory to the Borough Council.
The applicant for any permit hereunder shall, at the time of
his application, pay to the Borough the following fees:
A. Pet shop or zoological garden: $25 for each calendar year or part
thereof. There shall be no charge for a traveling educational exhibit
maintained by an established humane society or zoological garden;
B. Menagerie: $50, plus an additional $10 per day for the duration of
the permit;
C. All other applicants: $10 for the first calendar year or part thereof,
renewable thereafter for a fee of $5 each calendar year or part thereof.
Any person who violates any provisions of this chapter or any
of the rules and regulations made pursuant hereto shall be liable
for each offense upon conviction before any District Justice to a
fine of not more than $300, together with the costs of prosecution,
or to imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding 30
days, or both, and each day's failure to comply with such provision
shall constitute a separate violation. In addition, Borough Council
may authorize the Animal Control Officer to institute any appropriate
action or proceeding, whether by legal process or otherwise, to restrain,
correct or abate a continuing violation of any provision of this chapter.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect any suit
or proceeding now pending in any court or any actions required or
liability incurred or any cause or causes of action occurred or existing
under any act or ordinance repealed hereby. No right or remedy of
any character shall be lost, impaired or affected by this chapter.