[Adopted 8-18-1975 by Ord. No. 147 (Ch. 3, Part 2B, of the
1981 Code of Ordinances)]
On or after the effective date of this article, it shall be
unlawful for any person or persons who are the owners or custodians
of any pet to permit any pet owned by him, her or them, or under his,
her or their supervision and control, to run at large either in the
day or at night upon the public streets and highways (including state
and county highways) of Peters Township or upon the property of persons
other than the owners of such pets.
For the purpose of enforcing this article:
Running about loose on the street, or upon property of persons
other than the owners of such pets, unleashed and unaccompanied by
the owner or custodian or by any member of his family or by any servant
or agent of the owner of such pets.
[Amended 10-25-1982 by Ord. No. 264[1]]
All pets found running at large shall be seized by any Township
police officer or other officer duly authorized for such purpose on
sight. When such pet has been seized and impounded, the owner or custodian,
if known, shall be given notice by registered mail or personal service
that such pet has been seized and impounded and will be given to the
Humane Society, or destroyed, if not redeemed within five days of
said notice, at the discretion of the Animal Control Officer.
The owner or custodian of any pet seized and impounded under the provisions of this article may, before the expiration of the five-day period noted in § 119-6, redeem such pet by paying all costs for boarding, $30 per day, and penalty assessed against such animal and securing a valid license and tag for such pet where required by law, and by paying the fine or penalty assessed for violation of this article.
The duly constituted Animal Control Officer and/or other designated
agents of Peters Township shall have the right and duty to examine
the collar or harness of all pets within the Township, to determine
if the owner or custodian of such pets has complied with the provisions
of this article and all state statutes governing pets.
[Amended 3-24-1987 by Ord. No. 374[1]]
A.
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this article shall,
upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding
commenced by the Township before a Magisterial District Judge, pay
a fine of not more than $600, plus all court costs, including reasonable
attorney's fees, incurred by the Township in the enforcement of this
article, and proper charges for the impoundment of the pet or pets
involved, said charge not to exceed the sum of $30 per day.
B.
If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment, the
Township may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable Rules
of Civil Procedure. Each day a violation exists shall constitute a
separate offense. Further, the appropriate officers or agents of the
Township are hereby authorized to seek equitable relief, including
injunction, to enforce compliance herewith.
It shall be mandatory for the owner of any pet which bites any
person, regardless of circumstances, or whether the animal is vaccinated
for rabies or not, to confine said animal either within an enclosure
at home, a veterinary hospital, or to restrain said animal by a leash
composed of a chain or other indestructible material for a period
of not less than 10 days following the day that the bite occurred.
Owners must, in addition, arrange for the animal to be examined by
a qualified veterinarian within the prescribed time after the quarantine
date, and the Animal Control Officer and/or the Township's designated
agent must thereafter verify the health of said animal.
It shall be unlawful for any pet licensed or unlicensed, on
a leash or running at large, to be permitted in that part of premises
which is used as a store for the sale of food for human consumption.
The owner or manager of any store in which such a violation occurs
shall, upon conviction before any Magisterial District Judge, be subject
to the same fines as the owner or custodian of any pet which is found
in the premises of a store used for the sale of food for human consumption.
This provision does not apply to service dogs accompanying and trained
to assist disabled persons.
It shall be unlawful for any person to wantonly or cruelly ill-treat,
beat or otherwise abuse any animal, whether belonging to himself or
otherwise, or abandon any animal or deprive any animal of necessary
sustenance, drink, shelter or veterinarian care.
[Amended 4-13-1981 by Ord. No. 235]
The Council may, from time to time, provide for such places,
means or methods and equipment as it shall deem necessary for the
purpose of retaining in custody any animal seized under the provisions
of this article, or, in its discretion, the Council may provide such
places, means or methods under the control and management of any individual
authorized for such purpose.
[Amended 4-13-1981 by Ord. No. 235]
The Council may designate or appoint an Animal Control Officer
and/or other special officer or agent and provide them with the necessary
equipment for the purpose of seizing, restraining and confining any
animal found running at large within the limits of the Township, and
the Township Council may enter into such contracts for the compensation
of such officers as may be appropriate.
[Amended 10-25-1982 by Ord. No. 264]
If the owner or custodian of a seized pet is unknown, a written
notice of the impoundment shall be posted on the official Township
bulletin boards and shall contain a statement that such animal will
be given to the Humane Society or destroyed if not redeemed within
five days after the date of such posting.
[Amended 10-25-1982 by Ord. No. 264]
Animals which have not been claimed by their owners, or cannot
be given to the Humane Society, shall be euthanized or otherwise disposed
of. The Township Animal Control Officer, or such other designated
officer or agent, shall have the responsibility to see that such disposal
is carried out in a humane manner. Failure to comply with the provisions
contained herein shall be deemed a violation of this article.
Any person, firm, association or corporation which customarily
has in its custody 26 or more dogs above the age of six months is
hereby declared to be a person, firm, association or corporation engaged
in the business or occupation of running a kennel. All such persons,
firms, associations or corporations so engaged shall be required to
be licensed by Washington County as per the specifications of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association or corporation
to place poison of any description in any place, on his own premises
or elsewhere, where it may be easily found and eaten by pets.
It shall be unlawful for any person, except a police officer
or duly authorized agent of Peters Township, to kill, injure, or to
attempt to kill or injure any domesticated pet.
