[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City of Easton 5-10-2023 by Ord. No. 5824. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any member of the Felidae family (both domestic and nondomestic
felines).
Any of the following:
An onychectomy, dactylectomy, phalangectomy, partial digital
amputation, or any other surgical procedure by which a portion of
a cat's paw is amputated to remove the cat's claw.
A tendonectomy or another surgical procedure by which the tendons
of a cat's limbs, paws, or toes are cut or modified so that the
cat's claws are prevented from functioning normally.
Any other method of permanently or irreversibly preventing the
normal functioning of a feline's claws.
It shall be an affirmative defense from prosecution under
this article that the declawing was performed for a therapeutic purpose.
This term refers to the necessity of addressing the physical medical
condition of a cat, such as an existing or recurring illness, infection,
disease, injury, or abnormal condition of a cat's claw, nail
bed, or toe bed, that jeopardizes the cat's health. The term
does not include a cosmetic or aesthetic reason or reasons of convenience
for keeping or handling the cat.
A person may not perform a declawing by any means on a cat within
the City of Easton unless the procedure is necessary for a therapeutic
purpose.
Any person who violates this article is subject to a civil penalty
of up to $500, plus costs, for each violation. Each incident in which
a cat is declawed or partially declawed in violation of this article
constitutes a separate violation.
A.
It shall be unlawful for a pet shop to sell or offer for sale a dog,
cat, rabbit or guinea pigs.
B.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a retail pet
shop from providing space to either an animal shelter or to an animal
rescue organization, whether such shelter or organization is located
within or outside the State of Pennsylvania, for the purpose of displaying
dogs or cats or rabbits available for adoption.
It shall be unlawful for an animal shelter or animal rescue
organization to, in exchange for payment or other compensation, obtain
a dog, cat, rabbit or guinea pigs from a person who breeds animals,
resells animals from a person who breeds animals, or sells dogs at
auction.
For purposes of this article:
Remuneration to cover the cost of feeding, sheltering, surgical
sterilization and providing care for an animal without profit.
A nonprofit organization incorporated under the law of any
state and exempt from federal taxation under § 501(c)(3)
of the federal Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and whose principal
purpose is the prevention of cruelty to animals and whose principal
activity is to rescue sick, injured, abused, neglected, unwanted,
abandoned, orphaned, lost, or displaced animals and to adopt them
to good homes.
A facility operated by or under contract with a political
subdivision of any state for the impoundment and care of seized, stray,
homeless, abandoned, unwanted, or surrendered animals.
Any member of the species Felis catus.
Any member of the species Canis familiaris.
To display or proffer for acceptance by another person.
Any member of the species Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus.
The auction, order, display for sale, offer for sale, or
selling of any dog or cat.
To exchange for consideration, adopt out, barter, trade,
lease, or otherwise transfer.
A.
A retail pet shop that sells or offers for sale a dog or cat or rabbit
or an animal shelter or rescue organization that purchases dogs, cats
or rabbits will be in violation of this article, and the violation
is punishable by a fine of up to $500. Each unlawful sale or offer
for sale of each dog, cat, rabbit or guinea pig shall constitute a
separate violation.
B.
The City Police Department shall be empowered to enforce any and
all parts of this article upon notification of such violation. A record
of the violation shall be kept on file with the City Police Department.
