[Adopted 10-24-1989 by Ord. No. 89-2; amended in its entirety 10-13-2015 by Ord. No. 15-06]
For the purpose of this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless otherwise indicated:
AT LARGE
Off the premises of the owner and not under the direct control of a person, either by leash, cord, chain or otherwise, and not located in the off-the-leash dog park; voice control shall not mean direct control.
DOG
Both male and female dogs.
KEEPER
Any person having lawful possession of a dog, either with the consent of the owner or by virtue of willfully and voluntarily taking control of the dog in some other manner.
OFF-THE-LEASH DOG PARK
The Township-owned dog park located on the Township Municipal Tract at 3630 Jacksonville Road, Hanover Township, Pennsylvania.
ORDINANCE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
An officer of Hanover Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, who shall be authorized and directed to enforce this article.
OWNER
Includes every person, firm, corporation or other entity having a right of property in any dog which is kept or harbored, or permitted, or suffered to be within the limits of the Township of Hanover, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, as well as every person, firm, corporation or entity occupying any premises within the limits of the Township of Hanover, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, permitting a dog to remain on or about his, her or its premises.
On and after the effective date of this article, no owner of any dog or any person having the care, custody and control of any dog shall permit the same in Township parks or on any other Township-owned property, unless the dog is in the care of an owner, and on a leash, excepting, however, during such times as the dog is located in the off-the-leash dog park, and then, only in accordance with the rules of the off-the-leash dog park as set forth in Exhibit "A", attached hereto and made a part hereof.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Exhibit "A" is included as an attachment to this chapter.
A. 
On and after the effective date of this article, and except in the off-the-leash dog park, it shall be unlawful for any owner to permit, allow or suffer any dog to run at large in Hanover Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
B. 
Dogs found to be running at large within the Township of Hanover will be dealt with in accordance with the provision of 3 P.S. § 459-302.
A. 
Activities constituting nuisances.
(1) 
On or after the effective date of this article, it shall be unlawful for any owner to keep or harbor any dog or dogs which habitually barks, howls, screeches, bays, or yelps incessantly for a period of 10 minutes or intermittently for a period of one hour between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. or incessantly for a period of five minutes intermittently for a period of 1/2 hour between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. to the discomfort or annoyance of its neighbors or other person(s) of reasonable sensibilities, or which materially disturbs, annoys or endangers the health, safety, welfare or repose of its neighbors or other person(s) of reasonable sensibilities. Such dogs are hereby declared a public nuisance.
(2) 
On or after the effective date of this article, it shall be unlawful for any owner to allow its dog or dogs to defecate, expectorate, or menstruate in or upon any public street, public property or private property (other than that of the owner). Such dogs, unless the defecation, expectorate or menstruation is immediately removed from the public or private property by the owner of the dog, are hereby declared a public nuisance.
(3) 
On or after the effective date of this article, it shall be unlawful for any owner to allow its dog or dogs to scratch, dig, burrow or otherwise damage any public or private property (other than that of the owner). Such dogs are hereby declared a public nuisance.
(4) 
On or after the effective date of this article, it shall be unlawful for any owner to allow its dog or dogs to be harbored or kept in unsafe, offensive or unsanitary conditions so as to create offensive or foul odors or so as to create a danger, risk or infringement upon or to the health, safety, welfare, or comfort of its neighbors or the public. Such conditions are hereby declared a public nuisance.
B. 
Notices of violations.
(1) 
Whenever any person shall complain to the Township or Ordinance Enforcement Officer concerning a dog or dogs engaging in conduct listed in Subsection A above, the Ordinance Enforcement Officer shall notify the owner of the dog or dogs that a complaint has been received and that the owner must immediately take whatever steps are necessary to terminate such conduct (the "notice").
(2) 
In the event that the Subsection A conduct continues after the Ordinance Enforcement Officer gives the notice as set forth in Subsection B(1), then, upon the written complaint of two residents, which residents may not be related by blood or marriage and may not reside in the same household, concerning the continued violation of Subsection A, then the Ordinance Enforcement Officer shall, upon verification of the facts that form the basis of the complaint, issue to the owner a citation in accordance with § 44-8 of this article.
On or after the effective date of this article, it shall be unlawful for persons to own a dog that has not been licensed, and that has not been vaccinated against rabies. Proof of such licensing and vaccination shall be permanently attached to the dog's collar for ease of identification. Collars must be worn at all times when the dog is outdoors or indoors where the dog may be in contact with the general public.
Interference with the Ordinance Enforcement Officer in the enforcement of this article shall constitute a violation of the same.
Any person who shall take away or attempt to take away any dogs from the possession and custody of the Ordinance Enforcement Officer shall be guilty of a violation of this article, and subject to the maximum penalty.
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this article shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought before a District Justice under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution. In default of payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such violation continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this article that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense.
[Added 9-10-2024 by Ord. No. 24-04]
A. 
Hanover Township Board of Supervisors shall, on an annual basis, provide funding in their general fund budget for animal control purposes, which shall include, but not be limited to, costs associated with feeding and basic veterinary care for the dog(s) as outlined in the Colonial Regional Police Commission policy that are picked up in Hanover Township.
B. 
Hanover Township Board of Supervisors shall empower and authorize the Colonial Regional Police Commission to determine the final disposition of the unclaimed dog(s), whether that should be adoption or euthanasia in a manner consistent with Pennsylvania Dog Law.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 3 P.S. § 459-101 et seq.
C. 
Hanover Township Board of Supervisors shall empower and authorize the Colonial Regional Police Commission and Colonial Police Department to enforce all Pennsylvania and local legislation pertaining to the humane treatment of animals, including, but not limited to, Pennsylvania Dog Law, Libre's Law, and local ordinances.