The words defined in this section shall have the meanings indicated in this section for the purposes of interpretation and enforcement of this article:
DOG
Any dog, bitch or spayed bitch.
DOG OF LICENSING AGE
Any dog which has attained the age of seven months or which possesses a set of permanent teeth.
HYBRID
A "hybrid animal" is the result of the breeding of a domestic animal and a wolf, coyote, wildcat or other wildlife, and all subsequent generations of such hybrid, and any animal that is advertised, registered or represented by its owner to be a canine or feline hybrid.
OWNER (when applied to the proprietorship of a dog)
Includes every person having a right of property in such dog and every person who has such dog in their keeping.
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG
Any dog that has been declared potentially dangerous according to state law.
TETHERING
The restraining of an animal by the tying to any object or structure, including, without limitation, a house, tree, fence, post, garage, weight or shed, by any means, including, without limitation, rope, cord, leash or running line. For purposes of this definition, "tethering" shall not include the use of a leash used to walk the animal, or forms of restraint used in the transportation of an animal.
VICIOUS DOG
Any dog which has been declared vicious in accordance with state law.
A. 
No person shall keep or harbor any dog within the Township without registering and obtaining a license therefor, to be issued by the Municipal Clerk upon application by the owner and payment of the prescribed fee.
B. 
No person shall keep or harbor any dog in the Township except in compliance with the provisions of this article.
C. 
No person shall keep or harbor any hybrid animal in the Township.
A. 
The application shall state the breed, sex, age, color and markings of the dog for which the license and registration are sought and whether it is of a long- or short-haired variety; also the name, street and post office address of the owner and the person who shall keep or harbor such dog.
B. 
The information on the application and the registration number issued for the dog shall be preserved for a period of three years by the Health Officer. In addition, the Health Officer shall forward similar information to the State Department of Health each month, on forms furnished by the Department. Registration numbers shall be issued in the order of the application.
Any person who shall own, keep or harbor a dog of licensing age shall annually, in the month of June, apply for and procure from the Municipal Clerk a license and official metal registration tag for each such dog so owned, kept or harbored and shall place upon each dog a collar or harness with the registration tag securely fastened thereto.
A. 
A license shall be issued after payment of a fee of $22 for each spayed/neutered dog and $25 for each nonspayed/nonneutered dog. The annual fee for a dog found to be dangerous or potentially dangerous as determined in § 134-32 and each renewal thereof shall be $700.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
B. 
The licenses, registration tags and renewals thereof shall expire on June 30 of the year following the year in which they were issued.
C. 
There shall be a late charge of $45 for renewal applications filed after August 1 in addition to the aforesaid application fee.
Dogs used as service dogs shall be licensed and registered as other dogs herein provided for, except that the owner or keeper of such dog will not be required to pay any fee therefor. Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person's disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support may qualify with documentation provided by a training organization or physician.
A. 
The owner of any newly acquired dog of licensing age or of any dog which attains licensing age shall make application for a license and registration tag for each dog within 10 days after such acquisition or age attainment.
B. 
Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Township any dog licensed in another state for the current year and bearing a registration tag and who shall keep the same or permit the same to be kept within the Township for a period of more than 90 days shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag for each such dog unless such dog is licensed under § 134-30A.
C. 
Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Township any unlicensed dog and who shall keep the same or permit the same to be kept within the Township for a period of more than 10 days shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag for each such dog unless such dog is licensed under § 134-30A.
No person, except an officer in the performance of their duties, shall remove a registration tag from the collar of any dog without the consent of the owner, nor shall any person attach a registration tag to a dog for which it was not issued.
No dog kept in a kennel, pet shop, shelter or pound, or breeder's premises shall be permitted off such premises except on a leash or in a crate or other safe control.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 134-38, Biannual canvass, of the 2008 Code was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
A. 
Tethering of dogs.
(1) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to tether, fasten, tie, restrain or cause an unattended dog to be fastened, tied or restrained to houses, trees, fences, garages, stakes or other stationary or highly immobile objects by means of a rope, strap or other physical restraint for the purpose of confinement, except in circumstances where all of the following requirements are satisfied:
(a) 
The tethering is for a total of no more than seven hours within a twenty-four-hour period, with a maximum of four hours at any one interval and a minimum one-hour period between confinements.
(b) 
The tether is attached to the dog by a non-choke-type collar, swivels at both ends, and attached to the stationary object by anchors, latches, or similar devices in a manner which the dog is able to move freely and prevents the tether from becoming entangled around the dog or any object so as to limit the dog's freedom within the tethered area or to prevent the dog, or any of its appendages, from becoming entangled by the tether.
(c) 
The tether shall be of a type commonly used for the size of the dog involved.
(d) 
The construction of the tether shall be of a lightweight yet durable material, shall not exceed 20% of the animal's weight, and may not be thicker than 1/8 inch.
(e) 
The tether must be a minimum of 15 linear feet in length, less than six feet above the ground, and shall remain tangle-free.
(f) 
The tethered dog has easy access to potable drinking water, edible food, dry ground, and adequate shade and/or shelter within the tethering area.
(g) 
The tethering area shall be clean, clear of obstructions and/or debris, and no less than 150 square feet per dog in total area.
(h) 
The dog, whether used for hunting, farming, breeding, or is an otherwise working dog, is regularly monitored while tethered for the aforementioned period of time.
(2) 
No dog shall be tethered by means of a choke-type, pinch-type, prong-type, or improperly fitting collar.
(3) 
Chains shall be prohibited for use as a tethering device.
(4) 
If there are multiple dogs, each dog shall be tethered separately and in such a manner that the tethers shall not become entangled with each other.
(5) 
No dog shall be tethered within five feet of another person's property, public thoroughfare, and/or right-of-way.
(6) 
No dog shall be tethered at a vacant structure or premises for any purpose when it is not monitored by a competent adult who is present at the property for the duration of such tethering.
(7) 
Dogs that are not spayed or neutered shall not be tethered for any period of time.
(8) 
No dog under the age of one or under 20 pounds shall be tethered.
(9) 
No dog that is sick or injured shall be tethered.
(10) 
No dogs shall be tethered between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
B. 
Collars.
(1) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to permanently collar an animal with a choke-type collar, prong-type collar, pinch-type collar, or rope.
(2) 
The collar must be at least as large as the circumference of the animal's neck plus one inch and cannot be constructed primarily of metal.
A. 
General prohibitions.
(1) 
No owner, caretaker, guardian or handler shall withhold proper shelter, light, space, protection from weather, veterinary care, and/or immune care from any animal.
(2) 
No owner, caretaker, guardian or handler shall fail to provide their animal with sufficient edible food and potable drinking water on a daily basis. Food and water must be in an animal food consumption or water consumption type container, feeder or waterer.
(3) 
No animal shall be subjected to unnecessary suffering or cruelty such as subjecting the animal to prolonged confinement, fear, injury, pain or physical abuse. Interaction with humans and other animals shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(4) 
No animal shall be confined in a parked or standing vehicle or enclosed trailer for a period of 15 or more minutes when the temperature during such period is either below 32° F. or above 85° F.
B. 
Restrictions on leaving animals outdoors.
(1) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to leave any animal outdoors and unattended for a continuous period of time greater than 1/2 hour if the National Weather Service has issued weather alerts or storm warning, or if the temperature during such period is either below 32° F. or above 85° F. The animal shall be considered outside regardless of access to an outdoor doghouse or similar structure, unless such structure is a properly functioning climate-controlled and weather-resistant structure.
(2) 
No animal shall be left outside during snowstorms, ice storms or thunderstorms.
C. 
Outdoor animal enclosures.
(1) 
Animals shall be provided access to an enclosure/structure which protects them against inclement weather, is water-resistant and keeps them dry, provides shade from direct sunlight, and allows them to preserve a normal body temperature.
(2) 
Animals shall not be housed on a temporary or permanent basis in any enclosure/structure constructed of metal, unless adequately insulated from inclement weather.
(3) 
If there are multiple animals, each animal shall be provided with a separate enclosure/structure.
(4) 
Outdoor animal enclosures, including pens, doghouses, or other similar structures shall be soundly constructed, safely and properly positioned on a raised platform, and properly maintained. The top of the enclosure shall be covered to provide the animal with shade and protection from the elements. The floor of the enclosure shall be constructed in such a manner that it protects the animals' feet and legs from injury.
(5) 
Pet taxis, plastic carriers, boxes, vari-kennels or metal houses shall not be acceptable as adequate outdoor enclosures.
(6) 
Outside animal enclosure shall be no less than four feet in height, no less than 64 feet in square footage, and must allow for the animal to freely turn around, stand, sit, or lie in a normal position. The animal must be able to lie down while fully extended without the animals' head, tail, legs, face, or feet touching any side of the enclosure. The interior height of the enclosure shall be at least six inches higher than the head of the animal in the enclosure when it is in a normal standing position.
(7) 
Outdoor animal enclosures shall contain bedding such as straw or other absorbent material in a sufficient quantity to provide adequate insulation for the structure. Bedding shall be maintained in a dry condition and renewed or changed as necessary.
(8) 
Outdoor animal enclosure shall be kept dry, clean, and free of animal waste.
Any person who violates or who fails or refuses to comply with any section of this article or with the rules and regulations promulgated by the State Department of Health shall, upon conviction thereof, be liable to a penalty as provided in § 1-15, General penalty, of this Code.