[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township
of Lower Moreland as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
[Adopted 6-12-1967 by Ord. No. 133]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Dogs and other mammals susceptible to rabies.
Includes any person having a right of property in any animal
and any person who keeps or harbors an animal or has it in his care
or allows it to remain on or about any premises occupied by him.
A graduate of a recognized school of veterinary medicine
licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A.
Persons
bitten by animals. It shall be the duty of any person who has knowledge
that an animal has bitten or injured any person in this municipality
to immediately report the facts and the whereabouts of such animal
to the Lower Moreland Township Police Department, and it shall be
the duty of the owner of every such animal to immediately confine
it in such manner as will prevent it from escaping or running at large.
B.
Animal
bitten by an animal suspected of rabies. It shall be the duty of any
person who has knowledge that an animal in this municipality has been
bitten or otherwise injured by or been exposed to or been in contact
with an animal infected with or suspected of being infected with rabies
to immediately report the facts and the whereabouts of such animal
to the Lower Moreland Township Police Department.
C.
Animals
infected with rabies. It shall be the duty of any person who has knowledge
that an animal in this municipality is infected with or suspected
of being infected with rabies to immediately report the facts and
the whereabouts of such animal to the Lower Moreland Police Department.
Any animal suspected of being infected with rabies shall immediately
be removed to and confined under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Disposition of such animal shall be as agreed upon by the Lower Moreland
Health Department and the veterinarian.
D.
Reports
by physicians and hospitals. It shall be the duty and obligation of
physicians and hospitals to report to the Lower Moreland Police Department
the treatment of any person for animal bites.
A.
The
animal shall be confined by the owner for an observation period of
10 days from the date the bite or injury occurred at the home of the
owner or at some other location selected by him under the supervision
of a veterinarian in such manner as will prevent it from escaping
or running at large.
B.
Immediately
upon being placed in confinement, the animal shall be examined by
a veterinarian employed by the owner. A written report of the results
of such examination shall be submitted in duplicate by the owner or
the veterinarian to the Lower Moreland Police Department within 24
hours from the time of the bite or injury. Such report must be signed
and dated by the veterinarian.
C.
If
at any time during said ten-day observation period the animal develops
symptoms indicative of rabies, such fact shall be communicated at
once to the Lower Moreland Department of Health. Removal or relocation
of the animal under such conditions shall be at the discretion of
the Lower Moreland Department of Health but at the expense of the
owner.
D.
If
at any time during said ten-day observation period the animal should
die, the owner shall immediately so notify the veterinarian concerned
and also the Lower Moreland Health Department. Disposition of the
body under such conditions shall be under the instructions of the
Lower Moreland Health Department. The term "immediately" shall be
construed to mean within the hour of the time of death.
E.
At
the end of said ten-day observation period, the animal shall be subject
to further examination by a veterinarian at the discretion of the
Lower Moreland Health Department. Such examination, if required, shall
be at the expense of the owner. At this time, at the discretion of
the Lower Moreland Health Department, the animal may be released from
confinement.
F.
Any
animal that has bitten or injured a person or another animal shall
be made available for inspection by the Lower Moreland Health Department
at the discretion of said Department.
G.
In
the event of an emergency or an increase of rabies in Lower Moreland
Township or as declared by the Pennsylvania State Department of Health
or any other authorized Pennsylvania state or federal agency, the
Lower Moreland Health Officer is hereby authorized, in order to further
protect the health and welfare of the public, to issue such temporary
regulations that are considered necessary under the conditions of
such emergency. Any temporary regulations thus issued shall be in
writing and a certified copy filed with the Township Secretary and
are to be available for inspection by the public upon request.
H.
Any
animal suspected of having rabies or having bitten a person or another
animal must not be killed but allowed to die a natural death under
precautionary confinement. When absolutely necessary to destroy any
animal suspected of having rabies, care must be taken to avoid inflicting
any head wound. The head of any animal so destroyed must be examined
by a laboratory before any decomposition takes place.
A.
No
person shall keep or harbor any animal in the Township so as to create
offensive odors or unsanitary conditions which are a menace to the
health or safety of the public.
B.
It
shall be illegal within the Township of Lower Moreland for any person
or persons to own, possess, harbor or control any dog or animal which
makes any noise continuously and/or incessantly for a period of 15
minutes or makes such noise intermittently for 30 minutes or more
to the disturbance of any person any time of the day or night, regardless
of whether the animal or dog is physically situated in or upon private
property, said noise being a nuisance, provided that at the time the
animal or dog is making such noise no person is trespassing or threatening
to trespass upon private property in or upon which the animal or dog
is situated nor is there any other legitimate cause.
C.
No
person owning, harboring, keeping, walking or in charge of any animal
shall cause, suffer, permit or allow said animal to defecate on any
common thoroughfare, street, sidewalk, road, play area, park or any
place where people congregate or walk upon any public property whatsoever
or upon any private property without permission of the owner of that
private property unless immediate cleanup and disposal is undertaken.
"Proper cleanup and disposal" shall mean that such person shall immediately
remove all feces and droppings deposited by such animal, which removal
shall be in a sanitary manner by shovel, so as to prevent any noxious
odors, attraction of vermin or any other public health nuisance to
neighbors. This section shall not apply to or be enforced against
blind persons.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided for the repeal
of former § 72-4, Defecation, cleanup and disposal, added
8-17-1988 by Ord. No. 378.
[Amended 8-17-1988 by Ord. No. 378; 3-21-1990 by Ord. No. 392]
Any person failing to comply with any of the provisions of this
article shall be liable for each such offense, upon conviction before
any District Justice within the Township of Lower Moreland, to a fine
of not more than $600, together with the costs of prosecution, and,
in default of payment or such fine and costs, to undergo imprisonment
for a period not exceeding 30 days; and each day's failure to
comply with any such provision shall constitute a separate violation.
