[Ord. 44, 6/11/1998]
As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
OWNER
When applied to the proprietorship of a dog, includes 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.
RUNNING AT LARGE
Being upon any public highway, street, alley, 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 said dog.
[Ord. 44, 6/11/1998]
A Dog Warden shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors to serve during its pleasure. Such Dog Warden along with the Constable shall have concurrent responsibility for the enforcement of this Part and of the Dog Law, 3 P.S. 459-101 et seq., provided that he shall not have the power to make arrests under this Act of Assembly or any other Act of Assembly or ordinance of the Township.
[Ord. 44, 6/11/1998]
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog or dogs to allow or permit such dog or dogs to run at large in the Township.
[Ord. 44, 6/11/1998]
The Dog Warden or any police officer or constable may seize any dog found at large in the Township. Such dogs are to be impounded in a licensed kennel.
[Ord. 44, 6/11/1998]
The Constable shall notify the owner of a licensed dog by registered or certified mail, with return receipt, that the dog is impounded and will be disposed of in five days if not claimed. Five days after the return receipt has been received, and the dog has not been claimed, the dog may be sold or destroyed in accordance with the Dog Law, 3 P.S. § 459-302.
[Ord. 44, 6/11/1998]
Unlicensed dogs that are seized shall be held in such kennel for 48 hours and if not claimed may be destroyed in accordance with the Dog Law, 3 P.S. § 459-303.
[Ord. 44, 6/11/1998]
1. 
A dog determined to be dangerous under § 502-A of the Dog Law, 3 P.S. § 459-502A, shall be restrained or otherwise kept in accordance with Article VI-A of the Dog Law, 3 P.S. § 459-501A et seq.
2. 
Dogs may be killed only in accordance with the requirements of § 501 of the Dog Law, 3 P.S. § 459-501, and otherwise, said dogs must be detained and delivered to the police or a State Dog Warden. While detained, said dog must be treated in a humane manner.
[Ord. 44, 6/11/1998]
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 as fixed pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Supervisors. 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.
[Ord. 2001-46, 4/12/2001]
Any dog or other animal which scratches, digs, or defecates or urinates upon any lawn, tree, shrub, or plant or which defecates or urinates on any public or private building or any other public or private property, other than the property of the owner or person in charge or control of such dog or animal, is hereby declared to be a nuisance.
[Ord. 2001-46, 4/12/2001]
No person having possession, custody, or control of any dog or other animal shall knowingly or negligently permit any dog or any other animal to commit any nuisance upon any gutter, street, driveway, alley, curb, or sidewalk in Swatara Township, or upon the floors or stairways of any building or place frequented by the public or used in common by the tenants, or upon the outside walls, walkways, driveways, alleys, curbs or stairways of any building abutting on a public street or park, or upon the grounds of any public park or public area, or upon any private property, other than the property of the owner of such animal.
[Ord. 2001-46, 4/12/2001]
Any person having possession, custody or control of any dog or other animal which commits a nuisance on any area other than the private property of the owner of such dog or other animal, as prohibited in §§ 2-201 and 2-202, shall be required to immediately remove any feces from such surface and place the feces in a nonleaking container for deposit in a trash or litter receptacle.
[Ord. 2001-46, 4/12/2001]
The provisions of §§ 2-201 through 2-203 hereof shall not apply to a guide dog accompanying any blind person or to a dog used to assist any other physically handicapped person.
[Ord. 2001-46, 4/12/2001]
This Part shall not be deemed to prohibit or otherwise declare unlawful any agricultural operations protected from nuisance suits by Act No. 1982-133.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 2-205, Noise Disturbance, was repealed by Ord. No. 2019-2, 5/9/2019. This ordinance also redesignated former §§ 2-206 and 2-207 as §§ 2-205 and 2-206, respectively.
[Ord. 2001-46, 4/12/2001]
Any owner, person, firm, association or corporation, who shall violate any provision of this Part shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $1,000 and, in default of payment, to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days.