It shall be unlawful for any dog to run at large on the public streets or highways of the Borough, or upon the property of other than the owner of such dog, and unaccompanied by the owner or keeper. Any police officer is hereby authorized to go upon any premises or enter any building to seize and detain any dog or dogs which have been found running at large unaccompanied by the owner or keeper when such police officer is in immediate pursuit of any such dog or dogs.
[Adopted 4-4-1962 by Ord. No. 176]
Any dog so seized shall be held for a period of not less than 48 hours, during which time it may be reclaimed by the owner, upon payment of lawful charges for its detention, as hereinafter provided, and during the period it is in the custody of the Borough shall be adequately housed and cared for. When a licensed dog is so seized and detained, immediate notice, either personal or by registered mail, shall be given to the person in whose name the license was procured, to claim the dog within 10 days. If not called for at the expiration of this time, the dog may be sold or destroyed as provided for in Section 20 of the "Dog Law of 1921" aforesaid.[1]
The owner of any dog detained under the authority of this article or of applicable state law shall pay all reasonable expenses incurred by reason of its detention before the dog is returned. Such charges shall be set by Council, by motion, from time to time, sufficient to cover the cost to the Borough of such detention.
Any person or persons violating any of the provisions of this article shall upon summary conviction before any Magisterial District Judge of the County be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $10, and costs, and in default thereof to undergo imprisonment in the Bucks County Prison for not more than five days.
[Added 2-9-1989 by Ord. No. 89-2]
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own or possess a pit bull in the Borough of Langhorne without having first obtained, from the secretary of Town Council,[1] a written permit granting permission to keep, possess or own a pit bull and posting a bond in the amount of $300 for each and every pit bull so owned, possessed or kept within the Borough. Such permit shall continue in force for the period of one calendar year and, at the expiration of each calendar year, said permit shall be null and void, and a new permit must be taken out yearly and every year thereafter. Said bond may be increased from time to time at the annual renewal date of said permit if Borough Council has increased the amount of bond for new applications. The term "pit bull" shall include all dogs with a blood line of 25% or more in any of the following breeds or families: American Staffordshire Terrier; Staffordshire Bull Terrier; Yankee Bull Terrier; or American Bull Terrier.
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original.
B.
It shall be unlawful for any pit bull to run at large on the public streets or highways of the Borough or upon the property of other than such dog, and unaccompanied by owner or keeper. Any police officer is hereby authorized to go upon any premises or enter any building to seize and detain any dog or dogs which have been found running at large or unaccompanied by the owner or keeper, when such police officer is in the immediate pursuit of any such dog or dogs.
C.
Any dogs so seized shall be held for a period of not less than 48 hours, during which time it may be reclaimed by the owner, upon payment of lawful charges for its detention and the posting of the required bond if said bond has not previously been posted. And during the period it is in the custody of the Borough shall be adequately housed and cared for. When a licensed dog is so seized and detained, immediate notice, either personal or by registered mail, shall be given to the person in whose name the license was procured, to claim the dog within 10 days. If not called for at the expiration of this time, the dog may be sold or destroyed as provided for in the statutes and ordinances of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The owner of any dog detained under the authority of this section or of an applicable state law shall pay all reasonable expenses incurred by reason of its detention and apprehension before the dog is returned. Such charges shall be set by Council, by motion, from time to time, sufficient to cover the cost to the Borough of such detention.
D.
Any person or persons violating any of the provisions of this section shall, upon summary conviction before any Magisterial District Judge of the County, be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $1,000, and costs.