[Ord. 566, 8/12/1997, § 1; as amended by Ord. 623, 2/14/2006]
DANGEROUS DOG
As defined in this Part shall be defined in accordance with the provisions of 3 P.S. § 459-501-A, Pennsylvania's Dangerous Dog Law as follows: "The determination of a dog as dangerous shall be made by the magisterial district judge upon evidence of a dog's history or propensity to attack without provocation based upon an incident in which the dog has done one or more of the following: (A) inflicted severe injury on a human being without provocation on public or private property; (B) killed or inflicted severe injury on a domestic animal without provocation while off the owner's property; (C) attacked a human being without provocation; (D) been used in the commission of a crime.
OWNER
When applied to the proprietorship of a dangerous dog shall include every person having a right of property in such animal, and every person who keeps or harbors such animal or has it in its care, and every person who permits such animal to remain on or about any premises owned by that person.
POLICE OFFICER
Any person employed or elected by the Borough of West Homestead, the Commonwealth, or by any municipality thereof, whether a full time employee and/or an authorized agent acting pursuant to oral or written agreement whose duty it is to preserve peace and/or make arrests or to enforce the law. This term shall specifically include state constabulary, dog, game, fish and forest wardens.
[Ord. 566, 8/12/1997, § 2]
1. 
The running at large of "dangerous dogs" with the Borough of West Homestead to the annoyance or inconvenience of residents, pedestrians and/or operators of motor vehicles using the streets or highways of the Borough is strictly prohibited.
2. 
Dangerous dogs are considered dangerous animals and potentially hazardous to the community. It is unlawful for the owner of a dangerous dog to permit the dog to be outside the proper enclosure for such dogs unless the dog is muzzled and restrained by a substantial chain or leash and under physical restraint of a responsible person. The muzzle shall be made in a manner that will not cause injury to the dog or interfere with its vision or respiration but shall prevent it from biting any person or animal or from destroying property with its teeth. Any dangerous dog wandering or running loose in or upon the Borough of West Homestead shall be subject to restraint and confinement by any police officer or other authorized persons acting on behalf of the Borough. It shall be the duty of any police officer or other authorized personnel acting on behalf of the Borough to take whatever action is necessary and proper pursuant to 3 P.S. § 459-505-A(6) and (c) under the circumstances to properly secure and restrain any loose dangerous dog.
[Ord. 566, 8/12/1997, § 3; as amended by Ord. 623, 2/14/2006]
1. 
No person shall own, keep or harbor any dangerous dog in any household, residence or on any property whatsoever within the Borough of West Homestead without first obtaining a certificate of registration from the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
2. 
Further, no person shall own, keep or harbor any dangerous dog in any household, residence or on any property whatsoever within the Borough without first obtaining a license from the Borough of West Homestead.
3. 
Applications for a license shall be filed with the Borough Secretary and shall provide the following information:
A. 
Name of applicant.
B. 
Name of owner of the dangerous dog if different from applicant.
C. 
Address where the dangerous dog will be kept.
D. 
Number of dangerous dogs to be kept or housed on premises.
E. 
Exact location on the property where the dangerous dogs will be kept.
F. 
Method to be used to secure or restrain the dangerous dogs on the property.
G. 
Name of the person who will be responsible for the care and confinement of the dangerous dogs.
H. 
Any other information requested by the Borough.
4. 
All applications shall be accompanied in an amount as established from time to time by resolution of Borough Council, application fee which fee is nonrefundable. The fee includes the cost of processing the application and any inspection prior to licensing.
5. 
Revocation of License. If the applicant, owner or other person responsible for any dangerous dog kept within the Borough violate any provision of this Part or any other applicable code, statute or regulation, then any license issued hereunder shall be automatically revoked. Borough Council reserves the right to refuse to issue or reissue a dangerous dog kennel License to any person who has violated any provision of this Part or other applicable code, statute or regulation.
6. 
Change of Address. If there is any change in the status of ownership, location where the dangerous dog is to be housed, or of any other Information required in Subsection 3, the licensee must immediately notify the Borough Secretary of these changes. Failure to notify the Borough Secretary of any such change will cause the automatic revocation of the dangerous dog license referred to above.
[Ord. 566, 8/12/1997, § 4]
1. 
All dangerous dogs must be confined in a secure building or enclosure. The confinement of a dangerous dog either indoors or in a securely enclosed, locked pen or structure, suitable to prevent the entry of young children and designed to prevent the animal from escaping shall be deemed appropriate confinement of a dangerous dog. Such pen or structure shall have secure sides and a secure top and shall also provide protection from the elements for the dog. If the pen or structure has no bottom secured to the sides, the sides must be imbedded at least two feet into the ground.
2. 
Dangerous dogs may not be kept, housed or harbored in an exterior yard without first obtaining approval from the Zoning Hearing Board of the Borough of West Homestead. In no case are dangerous dogs permitted to be kept, housed or harbored in an exterior yard unless the area is secured by a fence, the material and dimensions thereof having been approved by the Zoning Enforcement Officer of the Borough or his/or authorized agent. Said fence must be at least six feet high if not constructed with a roof and shall also require approval by the Zoning Hearing Board of the Borough of West Homestead.
3. 
All entrances and exits from a property where a dangerous dog is confined must be posted with a warning sign, the size and type of which is thereof having been approved by the Zoning Enforcement Officer.
4. 
Any dangerous dog which is removed from its area of confinement into or upon the public ways of the Borough of West Homestead must be kept securely leashed and muzzled at all times.
[Ord. 566, 8/12/1997, § 5]
1. 
If a dangerous dog, through the intentional, reckless or negligent conduct of the dog's owner, attacks a person or other domestic animal, the dog's owner is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree. In addition, the dangerous dog shall immediately be confiscated, placed in quarantine for the proper length of time and thereafter destroyed in an expeditious and humane manner, with all costs of quarantine and destruction to be borne by the dog's owner.
2. 
The owner of any dog that, through the intentional, reckless, or negligent conduct of the dog's owner, aggressively attacks and causes the severe injury or death of any human shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. In addition, the dog shall be immediately confiscated by a state dog warden or police officer, placed in quarantine for the proper length of time, and thereafter destroyed in an expeditious and humane manner, with all costs of the quarantine and destruction to be borne by the dog's owner.
[Ord. 566, 8/12/1997, § 6; as amended by Ord. 623, 2/14/2006]
1. 
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provisions of this Part, upon conviction thereof, 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 30 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues shall constitute a separate offense.
2. 
In addition, any person violating the provisions of this Part shall be subject to immediate seizure of the dangerous dog. Any dangerous dog having been seized shall be thereafter transferred to the appropriate animal protection agency to be held in custody in accordance with 3 P.S. § 459-501-A et seq.
3. 
In addition, any person violating any provision of this Part shall be subject to the following:
A. 
Revocation of the Borough of West Homestead dog license and retention of the license by the Borough.
B. 
Prohibition from obtaining another dangerous dog license for up to five years.