[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of East Whiteland as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Hunting — See Ch. 105.
Animals in parks and recreation areas — See Ch. 128.
Noise; disturbing the peace — See Ch. 133, Art. II.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 - Appendix A - 3 Pa.C.S.A. 459-202
[Adopted 9-2-1997 by Ord. No. 119-97]
It is the legislative intent of the Board of Supervisors, pursuant to the authority granted by Sections 1506, 1529 and 1530 of the Second Class Township Code, 53 P.S. §§ 66506, 66529 and 66530, to:
A. 
Protect the residents of the Township and their property from unruly, dangerous and unrestrained dogs;
B. 
Protect unrestrained dogs from injury occasioned by their unsupervised exposure to public highways and other dangers to which they are subject when running at large;
C. 
Protect the public health and public safety;
D. 
Prevent pollution of public grounds and waters;
E. 
Prevent and abate both public and private nuisances created by dogs, such as dogs running at large, incessant barking and howling by dogs, deposition by dogs of fecal matter on public and private property, and similar nuisances; and
F. 
Supplement the Pennsylvania Dog Law, Act of December 7, 1982, P.L. 784, No. 225.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 3 Pa.C.S.A. § 459-101 et seq.
This article shall be known as and may be cited as the "East Whiteland Township Dog Control Ordinance."
As used in this article, the following terms shall mean:
DOG
The genus and species known as Canis familiaris.
OWNER
When applied to the proprietorship of a dog, includes every person having a right of property in such dog, and every person who keeps or harbors such dog or has it in his care, such as a keeper, trainer or custodian (collectively the "custodian"), and every person who permits such dog to remain on or about any premises occupied by him.
A. 
Control.
(1) 
The owner of any dog shall at all times keep such dog either:
(a) 
Confined within an enclosure from which it cannot escape;
(b) 
Within the owner's control, either within the owner's home or on the owner's property;
(c) 
Firmly secured by means of a collar and leash when not on the owner's property; or
(d) 
Under the reasonable voice command and control of the owner or other responsible person, or when engaged in lawful hunting, exhibition or field training, when not on the owner's property.
(2) 
An unleashed dog unresponsive to and disobedient of the owner's commands shall not satisfy the requirement of Subsection A(1)(d) of this section.
B. 
No person, whether the owner or custodian, shall permit a dog which is under his care, custody or control, either by collar and leash, other restraint, verbal command or otherwise, to soil, defile or defecate upon any public property, including but not limited to sidewalks, pedestrian pathways, streets, parking lots, parks, playgrounds and recreational areas, waters, such as ponds, lakes, and streams, or other public property of any kind, or upon the private property of another. All persons exercising or required to exercise custody or control of dogs shall immediately clean up and dispose of any feces in a sanitary manner resulting from the dog's presence on any such property. Repeated deposition of undisposed feces shall constitute a public nuisance.
C. 
No person, whether the owner or custodian, shall permit a dog, whether the dog is licensed or unlicensed, to run at large off the property of the owner or custodian at any time upon either the private property of another, or upon public property, including but not limited to sidewalks, pedestrian pathways, streets, parking lots, parks, playgrounds, recreational areas, waters, such as ponds, lakes, and streams, or other public property of any kind unless such dog is accompanied by and under the immediate supervision and reasonable control of the owner or other responsible person.
D. 
No person shall own, possess, harbor, keep or control any dog or dogs which make any noise continuously and/or incessantly for a period of 10 minutes to the disturbance of any person at any time of the day or night, regardless of whether the dog or dogs are situated in or upon private property. Such noise is determined to be prohibitive noise, as described above, provided that, at the time the dog or dogs are making such noise, no person is trespassing or attempting trespass upon private property in or upon which the dog or dogs are situated. For the first violation under this subsection, the Township Code Enforcement Officer or any police officer shall issue a written warning to the person or persons. All subsequent violations shall be prosecuted in accordance with § 54-8 below.
[Amended 10-8-2014 by Ord. No. 261-2014]
Any dog found running at large, whether licensed or unlicensed, shall be subject to seizure, detention and disposition by any East Whiteland Township police officer or agency employed by the Township to carry out such seizure, detention and disposition, in accordance with the provisions of Section 302 of the Pennsylvania Dog Law, Act of December 7, 1982, P.L. 784, No. 225, Art III, as amended, 3 Pa.C.S.A. § 459-302, attached hereto as Appendix A and made a part hereof.[1] The owner of a dog so seized, detained and disposed of shall reimburse the Township for all costs and expenses that it incurs by reason thereof, which shall be due and payable prior to the release of the dog or, in the discretion of the Township, within 30 days of the release or other disposition of the dog.
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A is included at the end of this article.
The Supervisors may, from time to time, by resolution designate certain areas within Township owned property as areas for the exercise, training, and walking of dogs, subject nevertheless to the dog owner's compliance with § 54-4 of this article. In connection therewith, the Supervisors may promulgate regulations and procedures applicable to such areas deemed necessary for their proper care, use and maintenance.
The Supervisors shall have the power to bring and prosecute actions at law and in equity to abate nuisances occurring because of violations of § 54-4 of this article.
Any person who violates or permits the violation of any subsection of § 54-4 of this article shall, upon conviction thereof in a summary procedure brought before a District Justice under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure by any Township Codes Enforcement Officer or any police officer thereof, be guilty of a summary offense and shall be subject to a fine, if a first offense, of not less than $50 and not more than $200 plus all court costs of prosecution, and if a second or subsequent offense, shall be subject to a fine of not less than $250 and not more than $500 plus all court costs of prosecution. In default of payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment in the county prison for a term of not more than 30 days.