[Adopted 5-8-1972 by Ord. No. 5-8-72B]
[Amended 5-13-1974 by Ord. No. 5-13-74C; 7-11-1977 by Ord. No.
7-11-77A; 7-20-1987 by Ord. No. 7-20-87A; 8-12-1991 by Ord. No.
8-12-91B; 1-12-1998 by Ord. No. 1-12-98B]
30.1.1.
Licensing for cats.
1.
Applicability. Within seven days of assuming ownership, possession,
care, custody or control of a cat or the date such cat reaches the
age of six months, it shall be the duty of the owner or custodian
of any cats now kept permanently caged and more than six months old,
which shall be kept and shall remain in the Municipality of Bethel
Park for a period exceeding 72 hours, to apply for and to procure
from the Municipal Secretary or to have in his or her possession a
currently valid license for every such cat owned or kept.
2.
License requirements and procedures. If made for a period of one
year, a municipal license application shall be accompanied by a license
fee payable to the Municipality of Bethel Park in the amount of $2.
If the application is for three years, it shall be accompanied by
a license fee payable to the Municipality of Bethel Park in the amount
of $5. Each application shall be accompanied by a certificate signed
by a duly licensed veterinarian in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
which certificate shall certify that the cat for which a license has
been applied was vaccinated against rabies and distemper, said vaccinations
shall not expire or terminate during the coming licensing period,
and that the cat is otherwise in good physical condition and free
of communicable diseases.
30.1.2.
Licensing of dogs; municipal licenses not required. From the effective
date of this ordinance hence, owners or custodians of dogs shall not
be required to apply for and obtain municipal licenses for such individual
dogs, but each such owner or custodian of one or more dogs shall still
be required to obtain from the Treasurer's Office of Allegheny
County, a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania dog license required by the
Pennsylvania Dog Law, 3 P.S. §§ 459-201 through 459-205.
[Amended 7-20-1987 by Ord. No. 7-20-87A; 1-12-1998 by Ord. No.
1-12-98B]
30.2.1.
Upon application having been duly made as required by the Treasurer's
Office of Allegheny County and upon issuance of a dog identification
tag, each owner or custodian shall cause to be displayed on and affixed
to the collar or harness of each dog owned, a Pennsylvania dog license
tag duly issued by the Treasurer's Office of Allegheny County.
Failure of such owner or custodian of a dog to affix and display the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania dog tag on the collar or harness of such
dog or dogs shall submit the owner or custodian of such dog or dogs
to the penalties hereafter provided.
30.2.2.
Upon application having been duly made in accordance with Section
30.1.1, Subsection 2, of this ordinance, accompanied by the proper
certificate and fee, the Municipal Secretary shall issue to the applicant
a metal tag, together with a written license for each cat to be licensed.
It shall be the duty of the owner or custodian of each cat to affix
said metal tag upon a collar or harness worn by the cat, and failure
to do so will subject the owner or custodian of said pet to the penalties
hereafter provided.
[Amended 1-12-1998 by Ord. No. 1-12-98B]
30.3.1.
The duly constituted agents and police officers of the municipality
shall have the right and duty to examine the collar or harness of
all pets, including dogs, to determine if the owner or custodian of
such pet, if such pet is a dog, has complied with this ordinance and
the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or, if such pet is a
cat, has complied with the provisions of this ordinance. Any pet,
including a dog, within the Municipality of Bethel Park which, after
the effective date of this ordinance, shall be found not to be wearing
or displaying a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania metal dog tag, if such
pet is a dog, or a Municipality of Bethel Park metal pet tag, if such
pet is a cat, shall be seized by such agent or police officer and
placed under restraint in the custody of such person or persons as
the Municipal Council may, in its discretion, designate from time
to time.
30.4.1.
The Municipal Council may, from time to time, retain or hire a special
officer or officers and provide the same with the necessary equipment
for the purpose of seizing, restraining and confining any pet found
within the limits of the municipality and contrary to the provisions
of this ordinance, and the Municipal Council may enter into a contract
or contracts for the compensation of such special officer or officers,
providing for a proper compensation to the same upon either a time
basis or a unit basis, as said Council may decide.
30.5.1.
Any person, firm, association or corporation which customarily has
in its custody four or more pets (except for cats where the number
shall be six or more) over 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 and all such persons, firms, associations
or corporations so engaged shall be required on or before the first
day of June of this year and on or before the 15th day of January
of each succeeding year hereafter to procure a kennel license. The
application for a kennel license shall be made in writing, shall set
forth the actual owner or owners of the kennel, the location of which
shall be on a tract of land five or more acres in area (under one
ownership), and shall contain a certificate of the fact that all pets
over the age of six months kept at said kennel have been vaccinated
against rabies and said vaccination will not expire or terminate during
the coming licensing period; and shall have attached to it the certificate
of a duly authorized veterinarian in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
that all pets over the age of six months kept at said kennel have,
at a certain date, been vaccinated against rabies and said vaccination
will not expire or terminate during the coming licensing period. The
kennel license fee shall be $25 per annum and the amount, payable
to the Municipality of Bethel Park, shall accompany each application
for a kennel license. All pets owned by or confined to any such kennel
shall not be permitted off the limits of the kennel property without
being held in leash and accompanied by a proper attendant Each pet
shall have affixed to its collar or harness the metal license tag
provided in cases of pets not confined to a kennel.
[Amended 1-12-1998 by Ord. No. 1-12-98B]
30.6.1.
In the event that any pet license issued by the Municipality of Bethel
Park has been lost or stolen, the owner or custodian of such cat shall
obtain from the proper officer of the municipality a replacement tag
for a fee of $0.50, upon affidavit of the owner certifying such loss
or theft.
30.6.2.
In the event that a dog tag issued by the Treasurer's Office
of Allegheny County pursuant to the Pennsylvania Dog Law is lost or
stolen, then the owner or custodian of said dog shall obtain a replacement
tag from the Allegheny County Treasurer's office as required
by 3 P.S. § 459-203 by producing the license certificate
for the lost tag and paying the appropriate fee.
[Amended 2-11-1985 by Ord. No. 2-11-85H; 10-10-2005 by Ord. No.
10-10-05]
30.7.1.
All pets more than six months of age found running at large, whether
registered or unregistered, shall be seized by a municipal police
officer or other duly authorized animal control officer for such purpose
on sight. When such pet has been seized and impounded, the owner or
custodian of such pet, if known, shall be given immediate notice to
claim such within five days of notice. All domestic animals, i.e.,
dogs and cats, will be scanned to determine ownership of said animal.
If the owner of such animal is unknown, said animal may be destroyed
or sold within a period of five days. Prior to being destroyed, all
animals seized by a municipal police officer or authorized animal
control officer will be offered to a no-kill shelter for adoption.
Any municipal police officer may kill any dog which is deemed, after
due consideration by said police officer given the fact situation
as said police officer believes exists at the time, to constitute
a threat to public health and welfare.
[Amended 10-10-2005 by Ord. No. 10-10-05]
30.8.1.
The owner or custodian of any pet seized and impounded under the
provisions of this ordinance may, before the expiration of the five-day
period noted above, redeem such pet by paying all costs for feeding,
care, boarding and fines imposed against such owner or custodian for
violation of this ordinance. Information on securing a valid dog or
cat license will be provided to owners of unlicensed animals.
[Amended 8-13-1990 by Ord. No. 8-13-90C]
30.9.1.
On and after the effective date of this ordinance, 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 nighttime, either upon the public streets and highways (including
state and County highways) of the Municipality of Bethel Park or upon
the property of persons other than the owner of such pets.
30.9.2.
For the purpose of this provision, the terms "supervision and control"
shall, in addition to their common definitions, mean that the owners,
custodian or any member of his family or the servant or owner of a
pet shall supervise and control such pet in a manner so as to prevent
such pet from defecating on any public property. Such person supervising
or in control of the pet shall promptly remove any deposits and dispose
of such in a lawful manner.
[Amended 10-10-2005 by Ord. No. 10-10-05]
30.10.1.
For the purpose of this ordinance, the phrase "running at large"
shall be defined as running about loose on the street, or upon property
of persons other than the owners of such pets, unleashed, whether
accompanied or 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 10-10-2005 by Ord. No. 10-10-05]
30.11.1.
In the event that a pet licensed pursuant to the terms of this
ordinance is found running at large within the Municipality of Bethel
Park, said pet may be seized on sight, either in the daytime or nighttime
by any municipal police officer or other duly authorized animal control
officer and impounded. In such event, the owner or custodian of said
pets, if known, shall be notified of such impoundment and shall be
given a period of five days to redeem said pet upon payment of all
costs assessed against the owner, including the cost of boarding the
pet during the period of the impoundment and on payment of the penalty
hereafter set forth for the violation of this ordinance.
30.12.1.
The Council for the Municipality of Bethel Park may from time
to time provide for such places, means or methods and equipment as
it shall deem necessary for the purpose of keeping in custody any
pet seized under the provisions of this ordinance or, in its discretion,
the Council may provide such places, means or methods under the control
and management of any individual authorized for such purposes.
[Amended 10-10-2005 by Ord. No. 10-10-05]
30.13.1.
In the event that the owner or custodian of any pet seized and
held under the terms of this ordinance shall not redeem such pet within
five days, the municipal authorities, by their proper officer, shall
have authority to destroy or to offer said animal to a no-kill shelter.
No pets seized and impounded shall be sold for the profit of any individual.
[Amended 7-20-1987 by Ord. No. 7-20-87A]
30.14.1.
It shall be unlawful from and after the effective date of this
ordinance for any pets, licensed or unlicensed, on leash or running
loose, to be permitted in that part of premises which is used as a
store for the sale of food for human consumption. This section is
not to be construed to pertain to animals used by the handicapped.
[Amended 2-11-1985 by Ord. No. 2-11-85H]
30.15.1.
In the event that any person shall fail to obtain a license as hereinabove provided or shall violate the provisions of Sections 30.9, 30.10, 30.11 and 30.21 of this ordinance, he shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding, pay a fine of not less than $50, nor more than $100. Where any person has been convicted of the violation of Section 30.9 twice in a twelve-month period, for the third and subsequent offenses the municipal police officer may issue a citation pursuant to the Dog Law, 3 P.S. § 459-903, and upon conviction of a misdemeanor of the third degree such person shall pay a fine of not more than $2,500.
[Amended 2-11-1985 by Ord. No. 2-11-85H]
30.16.1.
The owner or person in control of any premises used for the
preparation or sale of food for human consumption in which any pet
is willfully permitted shall, upon conviction in summary proceeding,
pay a fine of not less than $25, nor more than $50. This section is
not to be construed to pertain to animals used by the handicapped.
[Amended 2-11-1985 by Ord. No. 2-11-85H; 7-20-1987 by Ord. No.
7-20-87A]
30.17.1.
The owner or custodian of any pet which is found on any premises
used for the preparation or sale of food for human consumption shall,
upon conviction in summary proceeding, pay a fine of not less than
$25 nor more than $50. This section is not to be construed to pertain
to animals used by the handicapped.
30.18.1.
This ordinance specifically repeals Ordinance No. 3-9-64A.
30.19.1.
Any ordinance or part of any ordinance conflicting with the
provisions of this ordinance be and the same is hereby repealed to
the extent of such conflict.
[Added 6-12-1972 by Ord. No. 6-12-72B]
30.20.1.
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog, cat or other
animal that bites any person, regardless of the circumstances or whether
the animal is vaccinated for rabies protection or not, not to confine
said animal, either within an enclosure at home, a veterinary hospital
or restrained by leash composed of a chain or other indestructible
material, for a period of not less than 10 days following the evening
of the day of the bite. Initially and at the end of the ten-day period
it is strongly recommended that the animal be examined by a veterinarian.
After quarantine date, the animal must be seen by the Animal Control
Officer to verify its health.
[Added 2-11-1985 by Ord. No. 2-11-85H]
30.21.1.
After the effective date of this ordinance it shall be unlawful
to keep, harbor or possess live members of the equine, bovine, ovine,
porcine, caprine species or gallinaceous fowl within the Municipality
of Bethel Park, except on a farm, which farm shall be a single tract
of land consisting of not fewer than five acres under one ownership.
[Added 1-12-1998 by Ord. No. 1-12-98B]
This ordinance shall be effective immediately.
[Added 1-12-1998 by Ord. No. 1-12-98B]
The provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable,
and if any section, clause or phrase of this ordinance shall, for
any reason, be held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision
shall not affect the validity of the remaining sections, sentences,
clauses and phrases of this ordinance, but they shall stand notwithstanding
such other invalid section, clause, phrase or sentence.
[Added 1-12-1998 by Ord. No. 1-12-98B]
Any ordinance or part of an ordinance conflicting with the provisions
of this ordinance is and the same shall be hereby repealed to the
extent of such conflict.
[Added 1-12-1998 by Ord. No. 1-12-98B]
This ordinance specifically repeals former Sections 30.1, 30.2, 30.3 and 30.6 insofar as those sections required owners or custodians of dogs to apply for and obtain a municipal license for such dogs. This ordinance also specifically repeals any reference in Chapter 30, Article I, to the licensing of any pets other than cats. This ordinance only requires owners or custodians of cats in the municipality to apply for and obtain a municipal license from the Secretary. Owners and custodians of dogs are required to apply for and obtain a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania dog tag from the Treasurer's Office of Allegheny County.
