[Adopted 4-13-1981 by Ord. No. 235 (Ch. 3, Part 1, of the 1981 Code of Ordinances)]
[Amended 9-22-1986 by Ord. No. 364]
A. 
The following words and terms, as used in this article, shall have the meanings hereby respectively ascribed thereto, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
ANIMAL
Any domestic animal or fowl, any wild animal or any household pet.
DOMESTIC ANIMAL
Any animal as hereinafter defined as a household pet, a large animal, a small animal or poultry.
[Amended 8-11-2014 by Ord. No. 775]
HOUSEHOLD PET
Any dog, cat, or other domestic animal normally and ordinarily kept in or permitted to be at large in the dwelling of its owner, not including poultry.
[Amended 8-11-2014 by Ord. No. 775]
LARGE ANIMAL
Any domestic animal of the bovine, equine, sheep or hog family.
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation.
POULTRY
Domesticated birds that serve as a source of eggs or meat, including chickens, turkeys, geese, peafowl, pigeons and pheasants.
[Added 8-11-2014 by Ord. No. 775]
SMALL ANIMAL
Any domestic animal such as a rabbit, hare, guinea pig, rat, mouse, or chinchilla.
[Amended 8-11-2014 by Ord. No. 775]
WILD ANIMAL
Any animal, bird, fowl, or reptile not normally or ordinarily domesticated; not normally or ordinarily raised in this area and climate as livestock or for work or breeding purposes; not normally or ordinarily kept as a household pet.
B. 
In this article, the singular shall include the plural, the plural shall include the singular, and the masculine shall include the feminine.
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any wild animal at any place within the Township, except where the same shall be permitted under the Zoning Ordinance,[1] in a park, zoological garden, or similar establishment for exhibit to the public or to any portion thereof.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 440, Zoning.
[Amended 8-11-2014 by Ord. No. 775]
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any domestic animals, except household pets as defined in § 119-20 herein, except as provided in this section.
A. 
Large animals shall be confined in quarters, no part of which shall be closer than 200 feet to the exterior limits of any dwelling or any property line; with the exception that horses for personal use on properties of two to less than 10 acres may be housed no closer than 50 feet to the exterior limits of any dwelling or any property line.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
Small animals and poultry not housed in the dwelling of the owner shall be confined in quarters, no part of which shall be closer than 25 feet to the exterior limits of any dwelling or any property line. No more than six adult small animals or poultry may be housed on a property; if there are more than six adult animals or if there are roosters, then they must be housed, kept, raised and maintained on "farm" properties, as defined and provided for in Chapter 27 of Peters Township Code of Ordinances.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: "Chapter 27" refers to the Zoning Ordinance; see Ch. 440, Zoning.
C. 
The keeper of every such domestic animal shall confine the same in an enclosure sufficient to prevent such animal from running at large, and such enclosure shall be of a size conducive to good sanitation practices and adequate and sanitary drainage facilities shall be provided.
D. 
Every keeper of a small domestic animal shall cause the litter and droppings therefrom to be collected daily in a container or receptacle of such type that, when closed, it shall be ratproof and flytight, and, after every such collection, shall cause such container or receptacle to be kept closed. At least twice a week, every such keeper shall cause all litter and droppings so collected to be disposed of in such a manner as not to permit the presence of fly larvae.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
E. 
Storage of manure or odor or dust-producing substances shall not be permitted within 200 feet of any property line.
F. 
Every keeper of a domestic animal shall cause all feed provided therefor to be stored and kept in a ratproof and flytight building box, container, or receptacle.
G. 
Every keeper of a large domestic animal shall submit a manure management plan in accordance with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regulations to the Washington County Conservation District and maintain their property in accordance with the plan and regulations.[4]
[4]
Editor's Note: Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any household pet, except as provided in this section:
A. 
If any such pet shall be kept in a dwelling owned or occupied by its owner, such owner shall be required to follow such procedures and practices, as to sanitation, to insure that no public nuisance shall be created or maintained and no threat to the health of persons living elsewhere than in such dwelling shall be created.
B. 
If any such pet shall be kept in an enclosure outside such dwelling, the provisions of § 119-22 of this article, insofar as the same applies to small animals, shall be applicable to the keeping of such household pets.
[Added 9-26-1986 by Ord. No. 364[1]]
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any animal to allow any barking, howling, yelping or otherwise making noise continuously in excess of 15 minutes or intermittently in excess of 30 minutes so that such barking can be heard by persons outside of the property of the owner of the animal; provided, however, that noise from an animal due to someone threatening to or trespassing upon the property upon which the animal is located or caused by teasing or mistreatment of the animal by someone other than the owner, handler or custodian or keeper of the animal shall not be considered a violation of this section.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
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. 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.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Any violation of this article that would also violate any state law shall be prosecuted under that state law and not under this article.