[Ord. 1926, 10/10/2001, § 101; as amended by Ord.
2143, 11/9/2015]
The Burgess and Town Council of the Borough of Pottstown, Montgomery
County, Pennsylvania, has determined that when the peace, comfort
and enjoyment associated with the usual and common benefits of residing
in the Borough are disrupted, disturbed or adversely impacted as a
result of any dog, cat or other animal, as hereinafter defined by
frequent or habitual barking, howling, screeching, yelping or baying
or in any other way or manner disrupts, disturbs or adversely impacts
the peace, comfort or enjoyment of any person or resident of the community,
such that a person or resident of this Borough has no other reasonable
option but to "close" all windows at his or her residence in contradiction
to the desire of the person in an effort to maintain some level of
peace, comfort or enjoyment or when the peace, comfort or enjoyment
is disrupted, disturbed or adversely impacted to the point that the
normal pattern of sleep of the person or resident is compromised such
that the health, safety and welfare of the person or resident is endangered
or the comfort, repose or health of the person is adversely impacted,
it is hereby declared that such disruption, disturbance or adverse
impact is an unreasonable interference with a right to the general
and, therefore, constitutes a nuisance. Nothing in this Part is intended
to supersede, preempt or override any applicable provision of state
law, including the requirement of any owner of a dog over four months
to obtain a license.
[Ord. 1926, 10/10/2001, § 102]
As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any animal or bird maintained as a domestic pet including,
but not limited to, dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters and birds. "Animal"
shall not include livestock or poultry being raised upon working farm(s)
and shall not include horses which are not the method of transportation
or power for the occupants of a dwelling.
Includes, regardless of whether any such animal is licensed
or unlicensed:
Every person having a right, proprietorship or ownership of
an animal.
[Amended by Ord. 2143, 11/9/2015]
Every person who keeps or harbors an animal or has it in his
or her care or custody.
Every person who permits an animal to remain on or about any
premises occupied by him or her.
The parent of any child under 18 years of age who owns or has
the control and/or custody of an animal.
"Owner" shall not include a feral cat caregiver.
[Added by Ord. 2143, 11/9/2015]
Any animal which attacks and inflicts severe injury or kills
a person or domestic animal, but does not include the following:
[Amended by Ord. 2143, 11/9/2015]
An animal that bites or attacks a person or animal that is trespassing
on the property of the animal's owner.
An animal that bites or attacks a person or animal that provokes,
torments, tortures, or treats an animal cruelly or in response to
having previously been provoked, tormented, tortured, or treated cruelly
by the same person or animal.
An animal that is responding in a manner that an ordinary and
reasonable person would conclude was designed to protect their person.
If that person is engaged in lawful activity or is the subject of
an assault or battery, or to protect itself or another animal.
An animal acting in response to pain or injury or which was
acting to protect itself, its offspring, or other animals of the household.
The unreasonable, unwarrantable or unlawful use of public
or private property which causes injury, damage, hurt, inconvenience,
annoyance or discomfort to any person in the legitimate enjoyment
of his or her reasonable rights or person or property.
A person owning, leasing, occupying or having charge of any
premises within the Borough.
To suffer, allow, consent or let, to give leave or license,
to acquiesce by failure to prevent, to expressly accept or agree to
the doing of any act.
Any natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or other legally recognized entity.
Being upon any public highway, street, alley, sidewalk, park
or any other public land or upon property of another person other
than the owner and not being accompanied by or under the control of
the owner or any other person having custody of any animal.
Any animal which has:
Previously been declared a dangerous animal under this Section.
A propensity, tendency or disposition to attack, cause injury
or otherwise endanger the safety of persons or other animals.
Behaved in such a manner that the owner knows or should have
known that the animal has tendencies to bite or attack persons or
other animals, but does not include the following:
[Amended by Ord. 2143, 11/9/2015]
An animal that bites or attacks a person or animal that is trespassing
on the property of the animal's owner.
An animal that bites or attacks a person or animal that provokes,
torments, tortures, or treats an animal cruelly or in response to
having been previously provoked, tormented, tortured or treated cruelly
by the same person or animal.
An animal that is responding in a manner that an ordinary and
reasonable person would conclude was designated to protect the person,
if that person is engaged in lawful activity or is the subject of
an assault or battery or to protect itself or another animal.
An animal acting in response to pain or injury or which was
acting to protect itself, its offspring or other animals of the household.
[Ord. 1926, 10/10/2001, § 103; as amended by Ord.
2143, 11/9/2015]
1.
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any animal to allow or permit
such animal to run at large in the Borough of Pottstown. It further
shall be unlawful for an animal owner to fail to keep at all times
such animal either:
A.
Confined within the premises of the animal owner and maintained in
a clean and sanitary condition at all times.
B.
Firmly secured by means of a collar and leash or lead or other device
so that it cannot stray beyond the premises or person on which it
is secured.
C.
Under the reasonable control of some person or, when engaged in lawful
hunting, exhibition or field training, accompanied by an owner or
handler.
2.
It is not a violation of this section to have a dog off-leash in
a specific area designated by the Director of Parks and Recreation
to be an off-leash exercise area (including, but not limited to, dog
parks, etc.).
3.
For the purpose of this Part, an animal shall be presumed to be running
at large if it is not within the immediate control of its owner, said
control being in the form of a tether, leash or other appropriate
controlling device.
[Ord. 1926, 10/10/2001, § 104; as amended by Ord.
2143, 11/9/2015]
It shall be the duty of all animal owners, and the duty of the
parent or guardian of any minor owner of any dog or other animal,
to keep the dog or other animal securely tied or penned in an enclosure
in such manner that the dog or other animal cannot break loose and
run at large over the streets, alleys, sidewalks, or public grounds
in the Borough, or upon the property of anyone other than the animal
owner or the property of another who has granted permission to the
animal owner to allow the dog or other animal upon such person's
property. However, it shall not be a violation of this section to
have a dog off-leash in a specific area designated by the Director
of Parks and Recreation to be an off-leash exercise area (including,
but not limited to, dog parks, etc.).
[Ord. 1926, 10/10/2001, § 105; as amended by Ord.
2143, 11/9/2015]
It shall be the duty of all animal owners, while traveling on
the streets, alleys, sidewalks, or public grounds in the Borough of
Pottstown, to have the dog or other animal on a leash or lead at all
times, not exceeding six feet in length, and to prevent the dog or
other animal from entering upon the property of any person or persons
in the Borough without the property owner's consent. However,
longer leads, such as retractable leads, are permissible in areas
where the animal does not present a public hazard or interfere with
pedestrians. Collars used to secure leads shall not be of such that
would cause harm to the animal. However, it is not a violation of
this section to have a dog off-leash in a specific area designated
by the Director of Parks and Recreation to be an off-leash exercise
area (including, but not limited to, dog parks, etc.).
[Ord. 1926, 10/10/2001, § 106; as amended by Ord.
2057, 1/12/2009, § 1]
It shall be unlawful within the Borough of Pottstown for any
person or persons to own, possess, harbor or control any animal which
makes any noise continuously and/or excessively or intermittently
for 1/4 hour or more to the disturbance of any person, any time of
day or night, regardless of whether the animal is physically situated
in or upon private property, said noise being a nuisance; provided,
however, that at the time the animal is making such noise no person
is trespassing or threatening to trespass upon private property in
or upon which the animal is situated nor is there any other legitimate
cause which justifiably provoked the animal.
[Ord. 1926, 10/10/2001, § 107]
It shall be unlawful for any person to permit any animal to
soil, defile, defecate or create noxious odors from defecation upon
any common thoroughfare, sidewalk, passageway, by-pass, play area,
park or any place where people congregate or walk, or upon any public
property whatsoever or upon any private property without the express
permission of the owner or occupier of such property, unless such
person shall immediately remove all feces deposited by said animal
and dispose of the same upon his or her own property or by any other
sanitary method. Furthermore, it shall be unlawful for any person
to harbor, care for, shelter or maintain any breed of dog or dogs
or other animal in such a manner so as to disturb or unduly annoy
the public through the dog's or other animal's smell, mischief
or other harmful propensities. All pens or other areas in which dogs
or other animals are kept shall be maintained in a sanitary condition,
tree of offensive, obnoxious or foul odors.
[Ord. 1926, 10/10/2001, § 108]
Every dangerous animal and vicious animal shall be confined,
by its owner, within a building or secure enclosure and shall be securely
muzzled or caged whenever off the premises of its owner.
[Ord. 1926, 10/10/2001, § 109]
It shall be the responsibility of the persons being offended
to record the date and times of the offense, along with the location
of the offending animal and type of offending animal and owner, if
possible. This record shall be signed and dated by the complainant
and provided to the Animal Control Officer and/or the Borough Police
Department prior to issuing a notice of violation under § 110
of this Part. Should it become necessary, the complainant shall appear
at the District Justice hearing as a witness for the Borough.
[Ord. 1926, 10/10/2001, § 110; as amended by Ord.
2057, 1/12/2009, § 2]
1.
Method of Serving Notice. Prior to the issuance of a citation for
a violation of this Part, it shall be necessary to serve written notice
upon the animal owner in one of the following ways unless it is determined
by the enforcing officer that notice is not required due to immediate
concerns of public health and safety:
A.
By mailing a copy of the notice to the animal owner by certified
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid.
B.
By personal delivery of the notice to the animal owner, in which
case the owner shall sign a copy of the notice to be retained by the
Borough.
C.
By handing a copy of the notice at the residence of the animal owner
to an adult member of the family with which the owner resides, but
if no adult member of the family found, then to an adult person in
charge of the residence. Said adult shall sign a copy of the notice
to be retained by the Borough.
2.
Content of Notice. The notice shall set forth the following:
A.
The name and address of the animal owner, if known.
B.
The nature and extent of the violation or offense.
C.
The period of time over which the nuisance has occurred.
D.
The identity of the person giving notice.
E.
The date and time of sending of the notice.
F.
A statement to the effect that a complaint may be filed with the
District Justice if the nuisance is not abated within 24 hours of
the time the notice is given to the animal owner.
3.
Duration of Notice. Any notice given pursuant to this Section shall
be valid for a period of six months. Within six months, no additional
notice need be given prior to a complaint being filed with a District
Justice.
[Ord. 1926, 10/10/2001, § 111]
Any person who shall violate or permit the violation of this
Part shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of
not less than $50 nor more than $600, plus all court costs, including
reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the Borough, and such
fine and costs shall be in addition to any other expense for kennel
charges, and in default of payment, to imprisonment for a term not
to exceed 30 days. Enforcement of this Part shall be by action brought
before a District Justice in the same manner provided for the enforcement
of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure.
[Ord. 1517, 5/13/1985, § 6; as amended by Ord.
2057, 1/12/2009, § 3[1]]
No person or persons, partnerships, firms or corporations shall
keep any pig or any other farm animal within the limits of the Borough
of Pottstown. Such farm animals shall include, but not be limited
to donkeys, cows, horses, sheep, fowl (including, but not limited
to ducks, geese, chickens and roosters), and goats.
[1]
Editor’s Note: Section 6 of Ord. 2057 provides as follows: “The Borough Manager, in conjunction with the Police Department and Code Enforcement Office, shall be permitted to establish reasonable rules and regulations relating to the enforcement and permitting with respect to the animals described in Part 2 of Chapter 2, Animals, of the Code of Ordinances of the Borough of Pottstown.”
[Ord. 1517, 5/13/1985, § 6; as amended by Ord.
2057, 1/12/2009, § 4]
It shall be unlawful to keep any wild animals, whether purchased
from a pet store or pet export show or caught from the wilderness
or outside, or acquired in any other fashion, in the Borough of Pottstown.
Such prohibited wild animals shall include, but not be limited to,
migratory birds, fox, bear, deer, monkeys, raccoons, opossums, skunks,
venomous snakes, venomous spiders, alligators or crocodiles.
[Ord. 1517, 5/13/1985, § 6; as amended by Ord.
2143, 11/9/2015]
No person owning or having in his custody animals or fowl shall
so maintain said animals or fowl in such a manner as to create any
obnoxious or foul odor therefrom beyond the property line. Animals
owners are responsible for keeping their property clean of animal
fecal matter, which must be cleaned on a daily basis or within 48
hours.
[Ord. 1517, 5/13/1985, § 6; as amended by Ord.
2057, 1/12/2009, § 5; and by Ord. 2143, 11/9/2015]
All animals kept outdoors must have access to weatherproof shelter
as prescribed below:
A.
Animals shall be provided with access to a shelter which protects
them against inclement weather, keeps them dry and allows them to
preserve a normal body temperature. Animals shall be provided with
a house or structure that is in good repair and complies with the
following requirements:
(1)
The house or structure shall have a roof and at least three enclosed
sides;
(2)
It shall be of a suitable size to accommodate the animal in both
standing and lying positions;
(3)
It shall be moisture-proof, windproof, ventilated, and in cold temperatures
shall promote the retention of body heat;
(4)
It shall be made of durable material with a solid, moisture-proof
floor raised at least two inches from the ground;
(5)
It shall have a significant quantity of suitable clean bedding material
consisting of hay, straw, cedar shavings or the equivalent to provide
insulation and protection against cold and dampness;
(6)
All animals must be afforded one or more separate areas of shade
large enough to accommodate the entire body of the animal at one time
and protect it from the direct rays of the sun;
(7)
Drinking water must be available in a clean, liquid state. Snow or
ice is not an acceptable water source;
(8)
The house or similar structure and the surrounding area shall be
free from excessive dirt, trash, and waste. Tethering that does not
allow an animal to defecate or urinate in an area separate from an
area where it must, eat, drink, or lie down is prohibited;
(9)
Use of leashes or leads shall contain a swivel or be attached to
a swivel and shall be placed and attached so that the animal cannot
become entangled with the leash or lead of other animals or another
object;
(10)
The lead shall be a type commonly used for the size and type
of animal involved and shall be attached to the animal by means of
a well-fitted buckle-type collar. The lead shall be at least three
times the length of the animal as measured from the tip of its nose
to the base of its tail, but no less than 15 feet in length, and shall
allow the animal convenient access to the house or structure;
(11)
It shall be prohibited to put a heavy chain around an animal's
neck, tie an animal using a huge logging chain, and/or put any kinds
of weights on it, including but not limited to weight vests, weighted
collars, and weighted harnesses. A tether that weighs more than 1/8
of the animal's body weight is prohibited;
(12)
It shall be prohibited to secure an unattended animal using
aversive collars, inclusive of but not limited to prong, pinch, and
choke chain collars;
(13)
No animal may be housed on a temporary or permanent basis in
any shelter constructed of uninsulated metal;
(14)
In severe weather conditions of high winds and/or heavy rains
or frozen precipitation with temperatures above 32° F., houses
or similar structure shall have a windbreak at the entrance;
(15)
In extreme cold temperatures, if the temperature falls below
32° F., animals may not be left outside for more than a half hour;
(16)
In extreme heat temperatures, if the temperature rises above
90° F., animals may not be left outside for more than a half hour.
(17)
Any animal confined within an outdoor enclosure/pen for more
than two hours must have adequate space to exercise. A minimum of
100 square feet is required for any animal. Dogs over 80 pounds must
have an additional 50 square feet. An additional 50 square feet is
required for each additional dog kept within the same enclosed area.
The area must be maintained in a sanitary condition and be free from
debris or stored material.
B.
Garages, sheds, screened or enclosed porches, and alcoves may be
considered shelter or protection from the weather, provided:
(1)
During the spring and summer, the structure is ventilated so as to
provide movement of air;
(2)
In a heated structure during fall and winter, an area must be provided
for the animal that contains bedding (blankets, straw, etc.) sufficient
to keep the animal insulated from the floor of the structure; and
(3)
In an unheated structure during fall and winter, an enclosure must
be provided consisting of four walls and a top (which may be an igloo-type
house), which is sufficiently large enough that the animal is able
to stand up and turn around while inside. Said enclosure is for the
purpose of retaining the body heat of the animal. Bedding (blankets,
straw, etc.) must also be provided.
C.
Any time that an animal is left outside, tethered or not, and the
owner is absent from the property, a suitable structure (dog house,
shed, garage, screened porch, alcove, or working pet door) must be
provided as shelter for such animal, and if tethered, the tether must
be positioned so the animal may enter the structure easily.
[Ord. 2143, 11/9/2015[1]]
1.
Animal rescue or welfare organizations and animal control may establish
a trap-neuter-return program for feral cats that includes vaccinating
the cats against rabies and ear tipping when they are trapped and
neutered.
2.
"Trap-neuter-return" means a nonlethal approach to feral cat population
control where feral cats are humanely trapped, sterilized, vaccinated,
ear tipped, and then returned to the location where they were originally
trapped.
3.
"Feral cat" means a cat that lives outside, does not have an owner,
is unsocialized to people, and typically avoids contact with humans.
4.
"Ear tip" means a mark identifying a feral cat as being in a trap-neuter-return
program, specifically, the removal of approximately 1/4 of an inch
off the tip of the cat's left or right ear while the cat is anesthetized.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided for the renumbering
of former § 205, Penalty, as § 209.
[Ord. 2143, 11/9/2015]
"Feral cat caregiver" means any person who provides volunteer
care to or for a feral cat by trapping, neutering, vaccinating, and
returning the feral cat; by feeding and providing water to a feral
cat; by providing shelter to a feral cat; and/or providing medical
care for a feral cat.
A.
Feral cat caregivers shall be permitted to carry out trap-neuter-return
at their own expense. A feral cat giver who chooses to carry out trap-neuter-return
shall:
(1)
Vaccinate the feral cat(s) at the time of sterilization.
(2)
Ear tip the left or right ear of the feral cat(s) at the time of
sterilization.
(3)
Provide food and water to the feral cat(s) on a regular basis, year
round, using best practices to minimize, as reasonable as possible,
any nuisance and/or unsanitary conditions.
(4)
Provide adequate shelter (in number and quality) for the feral cat(s)
using best practices to minimize nuisance.
(5)
Make reasonable, good-faith efforts to provide needed veterinary
care to the feral cat(s) that is(are) visibly ill or injured.
B.
A feral cat caregiver is encouraged to make a reasonable effort to
update the vaccinations on cats that can be recaptured.
C.
In the event that kittens are born to a feral cat, the feral cat
caregiver is encouraged to take reasonable steps to remove the kittens
after they have been weaned, ideally before eight weeks of age. The
kittens shall be placed in permanent or foster homes or turned over
to an animal rescue organization for the purpose of subsequent permanent
placement.
D.
An ear tipped feral cat shall not be removed by animal control unless
veterinary care is required.
E.
A feral cat caregiver who returns a feral cat as part of a trap-neuter-return
is deemed to not have abandoned the feral cat.
[Ord. 2143, 11/9/2015]
The following is a list of your responsibilities concerning
the care for a trapped animal:
A.
The trap must be placed in a shaded or sheltered area.
B.
The trap must be placed in such a manner that it cannot fall.
C.
The trap may not be set uphill of water or within 10 feet of water.
D.
The trap may not be set within reach of the general public.
E.
You are responsible for baiting and monitoring of the trap.
F.
When the trap is set outside, the trap must be checked once an hour
during a twenty-four-hour period.
G.
The trap may not be used during night hours if the temperature is
predicted to be below 32° F.
H.
When not in use, or when monitoring is not feasible, the bait must
be removed from the trap, and the trap must be deactivated/closed.
I.
The trapped animal must be kept safe. In hot weather, a damp towel
must be placed over the trap and placed in a shaded area. In cold
weather, a dry towel must be placed over the trap and placed in a
sheltered area free from wind.
J.
A nontarget animal should be released when first found trapped unless
it is injured or deceased.
K.
You are responsible if an animal expires due to your failure to follow
the above procedures.
[Ord. 2143, 11/9/2015]
"Cruelty" means any intentional act or omission whereby unjustifiable
pain, suffering or death is caused or permitted, including failure
to provide appropriate drink, air, space, shelter or protection from
the elements, veterinary care, or nutritious food in a quantity sufficient
to maintain life.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully and unjustifiably
kill, wound, injure, torture, torment, tease, molest, bait, overwork,
deprive of necessary sustenance, needlessly mutilate, poison, abandon,
or subject to conditions detrimental to its health or general welfare
any animal.
B.
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep animals under unsanitary
or inhumane conditions or to fail to provide proper food, water, shelter
or reasonably clean quarters, or to fail to provide proper medical
attention for sick, diseased, or injured animals. Minimal care shall
comprise, but not be limited to, the following:
(1)
Food shall be wholesome, palatable, and free from contamination.
It shall be of sufficient quantity and nutritive value as to maintain
all animals in good health.
(2)
Clean, potable water shall be available at all times for all animals.
Any water receptacle shall be kept clean and sanitary, of appropriate
size and design for the animal, and positioned to prevent spillage.
(3)
All animals shall be able to stand to their full height, stretch
out, turn around, lie down, and make normal postural adjustments comfortably.
(4)
Animals shall be allowed to exercise and have freedom of movement
as necessary to reduce stress and maintain physical condition.
(5)
An animal shall be afforded immediate veterinary care if it is known
or suspected to be ill or injured.
(6)
Animals with hair coats requiring grooming to prevent severe matting,
filth, accumulation and/or skin disease shall be groomed in accord
with normal and accepted grooming practices.
(7)
Both indoor and outdoor enclosures shall receive cleaning as necessary
to remove pet solid waste and debris so as to minimize disease hazards,
odor, and danger to the animal.
(8)
It shall be unlawful for any person to promote, stage, hold, manage,
conduct, carry on or attend any illegal game, exhibition, contest,
fight, or combat between one or more animals or between animals and
humans, or to set free any animal for the purpose of chasing or having
a race thereafter. This shall include, but is not limited to, hares
or rabbits, cocks or other fowl, and dogs.
(9)
It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, or corporation
being the owner, possessor, or custodian of a dog, cat, or other domestic
animal or pet to abandon such animal. "Abandon" does not mean transferring
ownership to an animal rescue organization or another person.
(10)
It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, give away or barter
any domestic dog or cat less than eight weeks of age unless accompanied
by its dame. This provision does not apply to animals being surrendered
to an animal control agency, shelter, pound, rescue, or humane organization.
(11)
It shall be unlawful for any person to place or confine an animal
or allow an animal to be placed or confined in a motor vehicle under
such conditions or for such period of time as to endanger the health
or well-being of such animal due to temperature, lack of food or drink,
or such other conditions as may reasonably be expected to cause suffering,
disability or death.
(12)
Animals which are transported on, or in back of, trucks or other
open-bed vehicles must either be cross-tethered or confined in a suitable
cage made of wood or plastic to prevent them from departing the vehicle
while it is in motion. The cage must be anchored or tethered to prevent
movement while the vehicle is in operation. It shall be prohibited
to transport an animal on, or in the back of, trucks or other open-bed
vehicles during the winter months.
[Ord. 1517, 5/13/1985, § 4; as amended by Ord.
1735, 4/12/1993]
The owner of any animal who shall violate the terms of this
Part may, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not
less than $50 nor more than $600 and costs of prosecution. In default
of the payment of such fine and costs, such owner may be sentenced
to imprisonment for not more than 30 days. Such fine and costs shall
be in addition to any payments required under this Part.
