Exciting enhancements are coming soon to eCode360! Learn more 🡪
Township of Charlestown, PA
Chester County
By using eCode360 you agree to be legally bound by the Terms of Use. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use, please do not use eCode360.
Code
New Laws (6) Index
[Ord. 37-1979, 1/2/1979, § 1]
This Part shall be known as the "Charlestown Township Dog Ordinance."
[Ord. 37-1979, 1/2/1979, § 2]
This Part is enacted pursuant to the powers vested in Charlestown Township by the Second Class Township Code, 53 P.S. § 65101 et seq., of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is intended to supplement the Pennsylvania Dog Law, 3 P.S. § 459-101 et seq. In the event there is ever any conflict between this Part and the Pennsylvania Dog Law, the state statute shall prevail. This Part shall be deemed severable and in the event any provision hereof shall be deemed unenforceable or invalid, then the remainder of the Part shall remain in full force and effect just as if the unenforceable and invalid provision did not exist.
[Ord. 37-1979, 1/2/1979, § 3]
OWNER
When applied to the proprietorship of a dog, shall include every person having a right of property in such dog, and every person who keeps or harbors such dog or has it in his care, and every person who permits such dog to remain on or about any premises occupied by him.
[Ord. 37-1979, 1/2/1979, § 4]
1. 
The owner of every dog within Charlestown Township shall keep such dog at all times either:
A. 
Confined within an enclosure from which it cannot escape.
B. 
Firmly secured by means of a collar, chain, or other device.
C. 
Under the reasonable control of some person.
[Ord. 37-1979, 1/2/1979, § 5]
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog to permit such dog to run at large within Charlestown Township. Apprehension of any dog running at large within the Township shall be deemed prima facie evidence of violation of this Part.
[Ord. 37-1979, 1/2/1979, § 6; as amended by Ord. 160-2010, 10/4/2010]
This Part may be enforced by any person within the Township. The Township may, from time to time, appoint or designate certain persons as Animal Control Officers, whose duties will be to apprehend any dog running at large within the Township. Upon apprehension by any person, the dog so apprehended shall be delivered to the Chester County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, Pennsylvania. If the ownership of the dog is known, then notice of such action shall be given to the owner of the dog.
[Ord. 37-1979, 1/2/1979, § 7; as amended by Ord. 160-2010, 10/4/2010]
1. 
The first two times a dog is seized, the owner shall pay a fine of $15 to the Township as well as reasonable fees for keeping the animal in a kennel in an amount as established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
2. 
Any person allowing a dog to run at large a third time in violation of this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a magisterial district judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues or each section of this Part which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.