[Adopted 10-14-1996 by Ord. No. 1290]
It shall be unlawful for the owner, custodian
or keeper of any dog to allow such dog to run at large at any time,
either upon any of the streets, alleys or public grounds in the Borough
of Ephrata or upon the property of anyone other than the owner, custodian
or keeper of such dog.
It shall be the duty of the owner, custodian
or keeper of any dog and the duty of the parent or guardian of any
minor owner of any dog to keep the dog securely tied or penned in
an enclosure in such a manner that the dog cannot break loose and
run at large over the streets, alleys or public grounds in the Borough
of Ephrata or upon the property of anyone other than the owner, custodian
or keeper of such dog.
It shall be the duty of the owner, custodian
or keeper of any dog, while traveling on the streets, alleys or public
grounds in the Borough of Ephrata, to have the dog on a leash at all
times, to prevent the dog from entering upon the property of any person
or persons in the Borough of Ephrata without the property owner's
consent and to prevent the dog from littering upon the property of
any person or persons.
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons,
corporation, partnership or other entity whatsoever to harbor, care
for, shelter or maintain any breed of dog or dogs in such a manner
as to disturb or unduly annoy the public through the dogs' noise,
barking, smell, mischief or other harmful propensities. All dog pens
or other areas in which dogs are kept shall be maintained in a sanitary
condition free of offensive, obnoxious or foul odors.
Any peace officer or individual duly appointed
by the Council of the Borough of Ephrata is hereby authorized to seize
and impound any dog found running at large unattended in the Borough
of Ephrata at a place to be designated by the Council of the Borough
of Ephrata as a pound. Notice of such seizure shall be sent to the
owner of such dog in the manner prescribed by law, and such dog may
be redeemed by the owner thereof within 10 days from the giving of
such notice. If the dog has not been claimed within the ten-day period,
the peace officer or appointed person may dispose of such dog by sale
or by destruction in some humane manner, but no dog so caught and
detained shall be sold for the purpose of vivisection.
Any person or persons, corporation, partnership
or other entity whatsoever violating any of the provisions of this
article shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a fine of not
more than $600 for each offense, together with the costs of prosecution,
and in default of payment thereof, shall be imprisoned for a term
not to exceed 30 days. Each day's continuance of the offense following
notice thereof shall constitute a new violation.
