[Added 9-18-2017 by Ord. No. 17-07]
As used in this article, the following words shall have the meaning indicated, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
CARETAKER
A person or organization which provides food, water, shelter or other forms of sustenance or care to a feral cat colony
FERAL CAT
A homeless, wild or untamed cat.
FERAL CAT COLONY
A group of feral cats living in one territory and/or in close proximity, often near food sources and shelter.
STRAY CAT
Any cat whose owner or keeper allows said cat to run free outside of the residence of the owner or keeper from time to time.
The Township finds that stray cats, feral cats and feral cat colonies have an adverse effect on the health, protection, safety, and welfare of the Township and its residents and businesses, in that such stray cats, feral cats and feral cat colonies create unwanted noise, commit trespass upon private and public lands, are responsible for the deaths of native songbirds and other animals, exist in unsanitary conditions that contribute to the spread of disease, and increase the production of fleas, lice, ticks and other similar disease-carrying insects. The Township further finds that a properly managed feral cat colony may be a humane means to reduce populations over a period of time if and when management guidelines are propounded and strictly adhered to.
It shall be unlawful for any owner or keeper of any cat to permit such cat to run free outside of the residence of its owner or keeper unless said cat has been:
A. 
Neutered or spayed to prevent it from procreating;
B. 
Immunized against rabies; and
C. 
Identified as the property of its owner or keeper by means of a collar and tag and/or by means of a microchip implanted on the cat.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person or organization to intentionally provide food, water, shelter and/or other forms of sustenance and/or care to any stray cat and/or feral cat unless said person and/or said organization participates in a humane feral cat program sponsored by the Township and adheres to the strict guidelines set forth in that program and in this article.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for any person or organization to intentionally provide food, water, shelter and/or other forms of sustenance and/or care to a feral cat colony on public and/or private land unless said person and/or said organization participates in a humane feral cat program sponsored by the Township, the said person and/or said organization has registered the feral cat colony on an annual basis with the Animal Control Officer, and the said person and/or said organization adheres to the strict guidelines set forth in that program and in this article, which such guidelines shall require that the said person and/or said organization shall:
(1) 
Sterilize (spay or neuter) all adult cats that can be captured.
(2) 
Vaccinate and/or immunize all cats that can be captured against rabies, preferably with a three-year vaccine.
(3) 
Make every attempt to remove kittens from the colony before eight weeks of age for domestication and placement.
(4) 
Make every attempt to remove sick or injured cats from the colony for immediate veterinarian care or humane euthanasia.
(5) 
Assume responsibility and make arrangements for feeding the cat colony regularly throughout the year, including weekends and holidays.
(6) 
Make every attempt to ear-tip all cats with a single cut, preferably on the left ear.
(7) 
Maintain proof of sterilization, vaccination, immunization, ear tipping and medical records for all cats, which such records shall be provided to the Animal Control Officer upon request.
(8) 
Secure and maintain written authorization of the owner of the property upon which the person and/or organization is providing food, water, shelter and/or other forms of sustenance and/or care to the feral cat colony and/or any feral cat. Proof of such written authorization shall be provided to the Animal Control Officer.
C. 
The Animal Control Officer shall inspect and regulate any proposed or existing feral cat colony location. The approval of the Animal Control Officer shall be required for the development and/or maintenance of a feral cat colony and the humane program for that feral cat colony.
D. 
The Township Animal Control Officer or his designee shall at all times be permitted to seize or otherwise remove any feral cat and/or feral cat colony.
E. 
It shall be unlawful for any person or organization to destroy any traps and/or to release any stray cat and/or feral cat that has been captured pursuant to any humane efforts on behalf of the Township.
F. 
Any person and/or organization determined to be in violation of this article shall be issued a written warning and be granted a period of time, in the discretion of the Animal Control Officer, but not to exceed 30 days, to come into compliance with this article.
Any person, organization, firm or corporation which shall violate any provision of this article shall, 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, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500, plus costs, and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day or part of each day during which a violation occurs or continues. Each day that a violation of this article continues or each section of this article which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.