Municipality of Bethel Park, PA Article III Wild Animals and Feral Cats

[Adopted 2-10-2014 by Ord. No. 2-10-14B]

63.12 Definitions.

63.12.1. For the purposes of this article, the words and phrases set forth in this section shall be construed as defined herein:

1. CAT — A member of the species felis catus.

2. FERAL CAT — A cat that lives permanently outside of a domestic home and is not owned and cared for as a typical companion animal or pet, as a result of having been feral, abandoned by an owner, or rendered homeless, wild or stray by any other means.

63.13 Consideration of and responsibilities of ownership.

63.13.1. Individuals who feed and/or maintain shelter for feral cats, in particular, shall be considered the animal's owner and responsible for all required immunizations, as well as spaying/neutering of such feral cat, in addition to other municipal ordinances, including fines and penalties that govern the activities of animals that are considered pets.

63.14 Prohibited acts.

63.14.1. No person shall purposely or knowingly feed, bait, or provide any wild animal or feral cat with access to food on lands that are publicly or privately owned. No person shall purposely or knowingly leave or store any refuse, garbage, food product, pet food, forage product or supplement, salt, or fruit in a manner that would constitute an attraction to any wild animal. Bird feeders, if used, shall be of the type that restrict birdseed to the feeder, and any excess seed that falls upon the ground shall be immediately removed by the property owner.

63.15 Responsibility for removal.

63.15.1. The removal of wild animals and feral cats from private property shall be the responsibility of the property owner and not the Municipality of Bethel Park.

63.16 Nesting and breeding areas.

63.16.1. Residents are prohibited from creating potential nesting or breeding areas for wild animals, such as the outside storage of building materials, decaying firewood, exposed compost piles, decaying shrub and tree cuttings, standing water, tires or anything deemed by the Municipality to provide shelter to wild animals.

63.17 Violations and penalties.

63.17.1. Each property owner shall have the duty to remove any of the above-named materials from the owner's property if in violation of this ordinance. Any person violating any provision of this ordinance shall be liable for a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $50 for each offense, in addition to the costs of prosecution. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day or of each day thereafter during which a violation occurs or continues.