[Adopted 9-11-1984 as Ord.
No. 1097]
As used in this ordinance, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
When applied to the proprietorship of a dog shall include every person
having a right of proprietorship in such dog and every person who keeps or
harbors such dog or has it in his care, and every person who permits such
dog to remain on or about any premises occupied by him for a period longer
than one day.
The animal control officer shall be any person designated by the Township
of Springfield as a law enforcement officer to perform such duties as pertain
to animal control and enforcement. This official will be under the supervision
of the Police Department of the Township of Springfield. It shall be a violation
of this ordinance to interfere with an animal control officer in the performance
of his duties.
Any person owning, keeping, harboring or having custody of any canine
over six months of age within the Township of Springfield must obtain a Pennsylvania
state dog license for the current year from the proper licensing authority
as follows.
A.
Applications must be obtained and submitted by the owner
to the licensing authority, which is: County Treasurer, Delaware County Court
House, Media, Pennsylvania, 19063.
B.
The licensing authority will issue a durable tag, with
identifying number, which is to be fastened to the animal's collar. It must
be worn at all times.
C.
The licensing authority shall maintain a record of the
identifying number of all tags issued and shall make this record available
to the public.
D.
Persons who fail to obtain a license as required within the time period specified in this section will be subject to the penalty as provided in § 36-9 of this ordinance.
E.
It is not permitted to transfer a license or license
tag issued for one canine to another canine.
A.
No persons shall permit any animal other than a cat to
go at large upon any street, public place or private property other than the
property of the owner of the animal. All animals using any street, public
place or private property of anyone other than the owner of the animal shall
be on a leash not exceeding six feet in length, including the handgrip but
excluding the collar, and accompanied by a person able to fully control the
animal at all times.
B.
A canine on the owner's premises, which is neither tied
nor secured with an enclosure, is hereby defined as one which runs at large.
C.
If a canine is tied on the owner's property by a lead,
the lead cannot extend on to walkways, pedestrian rights-of-way or onto neighboring
property.
D.
Any animal running at large in violation of this ordinance
shall be seized by the animal control officer or any police officer and delivered
to an appropriate area of confinement approved by the Police Department.
E.
No person shall permit any canine, whether on a leash
or not, to enter upon any such area designated as a tot lot in any publicly
owned park or playground.
A.
No person having possession, custody or control of any
animal shall knowingly or negligently permit any dog or other animal to defecate
or urinate upon any gutter, street, driveway, alley, curb or sidewalk in the
township or upon the floors or stairways of any building or place frequented
by the public or used in common by the tenants or upon the outside walls,
walkways, driveways, alleys, curbs or stairways of any building abutting on
a public street or park or upon the grounds of any public park or public area
or upon any private property other than the property of the owner of such
animal.
B.
Any person having possession, custody or control of any dog or other animal which commits a nuisance in any area other than the private property of the owner of such dog or other animal, as prohibited in § 36-5A, shall be required to immediately remove the said feces from such surface and either:
C.
All excrement from animal(s) on owner's property will
be the responsibility of the owner of the offending animal to abate and clean
area of excrement so as not to present a public health hazard and/or nuisance.
The provisions of this ordinance shall not apply to a guide dog accompanying
any blind or deaf/hearing impaired persons, or to a dog used to assist any
other physically handicapped person or to animals used in any police or fire
activities of the township.
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any canine to permit said canine
to cause disturbance to the citizens, residents or other persons lawfully
in the Township of Springfield by barking, yelping, howling or causing any
other unseemly noise for extended periods of time, whether confined inside
a residence or to the outside area.
For the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this ordinance, notice
of violation shall be issued by the animal control officer, the health officer,
any police officer or by any other persons authorized to enforce ordinances.
Should any section or provision of this ordinance be declared by a court
of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the
validity of this ordinance as a whole, or of any other part hereof.
