The words defined in this section shall have the meanings indicated
in this section for the purposes of interpretation and enforcement
of this article:
Any dog, bitch or spayed bitch.
Any dog which has attained the age of seven months or which
possesses a set of permanent teeth.
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.
Includes every person having a right of property in such
dog and every person who has such dog in their keeping.
Any dog that has been declared potentially dangerous according
to state law.
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.
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.
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.
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.
