[Adopted 2-14-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-O-03 (Ch. 2, Part 4, of the 1995
Code of Ordinances)]
The Board of Supervisors of the Township of Warrington, finding
excessive animals are detrimental to the physical, mental, and social
well-being of the people as well as to their public health and welfare,
hereby declares that it is necessary to limit the number of domestic
animals within the Township to protect the quality of life of its
residents.
It shall be illegal within the Township of Warrington for any
person or persons to own, possess, harbor, or control more than three
each of dogs or cats on any property.
A.
This article shall not be deemed to prohibit or otherwise declare
unlawful any agricultural operations protected from nuisance suits.
B.
This article shall not apply to litters of kittens or puppies under
three months of age, provided they are born by bona fide pet animals
owned by the residents of the property and not bred on a commercial
basis. Breeding or allowing an animal to be bred more than once in
a twelve-month period shall be considered to be a commercial activity.
C.
Dogs or cats in excess of three of each kind permanently owned as
existing pets at the time of passage of this article may remain as
long as the resident maintains ownership and complies with all other
animal control ordinances and regulations. Excess animals may not
be replaced after death, loss, or change of ownership. This exception
does not extend to transient animals.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
Any person, firm, or corporation who shall violate any provision of this article, 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 article continues or each section of this article which shall have been found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense. This article may be enforced initially by violation ticket (citation); see Chapter 38, Ordinance Enforcement Procedures, Article II, Tickets for Certain Offenses.
