As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated, unless a different meaning clearly
appears from the context:
OWNER
Any person having a right of property in any dog or having
custody of any dog, or any person who harbors or permits a dog to
remain on or around his or her property.
RUNNING AT LARGE
Being upon any public highway, street, alley, park, or any
other public land, or upon property of another person other than the
owner, and not being accompanied by or under the control of the owner
or any other person having custody of said dog.
A Dog Warden shall be appointed by the Board
of Commissioners to serve during its pleasure. Such Dog Warden along
with the police officers shall have concurrent responsibility for
the enforcement of this article and of the Dog Law of 1982, 3 P.S.
§ 459-101 et seq., as hereafter amended, supplemented, modified
or reenacted by the General Assembly of Pennsylvania; provided, that
he shall not have the power to make arrests under this Act of Assembly
or any other Act of Assembly or ordinance of the Township.
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog
or dogs to allow or permit such dog or dogs to run at large in the
Township.
The Dog Warden or any police officer or constable
may seize any dog found at large in the Township. Such dogs are to
be impounded in a licensed kennel.
The Chief of Police shall notify the owner of
a licensed dog by registered or certified mail, with return receipt,
that the dog is impounded and will be disposed of in five days if
not claimed. Five days after the return receipt has been received,
and the dog has not been claimed, the dog may be sold or destroyed
in accordance with the 1982 Dog Law.
Unlicensed dogs that are seized shall be held
in such kennel for 48 hours and if not claimed may be destroyed in
accordance with the 1982 Dog Law.
The first two times a dog is seized, the owner
shall pay a fine of $15 to the Township as well as reasonable fees
for keeping the animal in a kennel as fixed pursuant to a resolution
of the Board of Commissioners. Any person allowing a dog to run at
large a third time in violation of this article shall, upon conviction
thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $600, and, in
default of payment, to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days.