[Adopted 4-3-1979 as Ord. No. 190,
approved 3-6-1979]
It shall be unlawful for any person who owns or keeps any dog to intentionally
permit such dog to run at large in the Borough of Matamoras in violation of
the provisions of the Dog Law of 1965 (3 P.S. § 460-101 et seq.),
as amended from time to time.[1] Any dog running at large in violation of said law shall be subject
to seizure, detention and disposal, as provided therein.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Dog Law of 1965 was repealed December 7, 1982,
by P.L. 784, No. 225, effective January 1, 1983. For current provisions, see
3 P.S. § 459-101 et seq.
It shall be unlawful to own, harbor or keep in custody any dog or other
pet which disturbs the peace by barking, howling, meowing or making of other
loud noises by such dog or other pet for more than one (1) hour or continuous
barking, howling, meowing or making other loud noises for periods of less
than one (1) hour but more than one-half (1/2) hour, which periods occur on
two (2) or more consecutive days. Such behavior shall be deemed to disturb
the peace and to cause the annoyance and discomfort of persons in the Borough
of Matamoras. It shall likewise be unlawful to permit any pet to run at large
in such a manner as to cause other pets to disturb the peace, as defined above.
A.
Any resident of the borough may request, in writing, that the Borough Police Department warn any person who shall own, harbor or keep in custody any dog or other pet, which disturbs the peace by barking, howling, meowing or making other loud noises or who shall permit any pet to run at large, as provided in § 39-6, to the annoyance and discomfort of persons in the Borough of Matamoras.
B.
Any such request shall be in writing and shall identify
and specify the residence of the owner, keeper or custodian of the dog or
other pet and shall identify and specify the residence or the person making
the request. Upon receipt of such request, the Police Department shall investigate
the complaint and, upon its satisfaction that there is probable cause that
such complaint is valid, shall cite the violator or the owner, keeper or custodian
of the dog or other pet by giving a warning.
C.
A warning by the Police Department shall consist of delivery
of a copy of this Article at the residence in the Borough of Matamoras of
any such owner, keeper or custodian or by mailing the same by registered mail,
if such residence shall be outside of the Borough of Matamoras, together with
a written notice that no further warnings shall be given and that future complaints
shall be prosecuted.
It shall be unlawful for the owner, handler or person in charge of any
dog or other pet to permit said dog or other pet to run at large or to injure
any human being by biting, jumping on, knocking down or attacking said human
being. This section shall not apply to such animal behavior on the premises
of the animal's owners, provided that the animal is properly fenced or
secured thereon.
No person owning, harboring, keeping or in charge of any dog or other
pet shall cause, suffer or allow such dog or other pet to soil, defile, defecate
on or commit any nuisance on any common sidewalk, passageway, bypath, play
area, park or any place where people congregate or walk or on any public property
whatsoever or on any private property without the permission of the owner
of said property. The restriction in this section shall not apply to that
portion of the street lying between the curblines.
[Amended 12-1-1992 by Ord. No. 233]
It shall be unlawful to keep more than four (4) dogs or four (4) cats
or more than four (4) of any other pets on any premises, regardless of the
number of owners. It is the intention of this section to limit the number
of such pets to four (4), regardless of whether they are dogs, cats or any
other animals or any combination thereof. This section shall not apply to
fish kept in aquariums. This section shall not apply to any premises for which
a kennel license has been obtained, pursuant to the Dog Law of 1965 (3 P.S. § 460-208
et seq.).[1] There shall be excepted from this section any accidental litter
of dogs or cats for a period of six (6) months from the date of birth.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Dog Law of 1965 was repealed December 7, 1982,
by P.L. 784, No. 225, effective January 1, 1983. For current provisions, see
3 P.S. § 459-101 et seq.
[Amended 9-6-1988 by Ord. No. 217]
Any person who shall be convicted of violating or failing to comply
with the provisions of this Article before any District Magistrate shall be
punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.), together
with costs of prosecution, and in default of payment of such fine and costs,
the violator shall be subject to imprisonment in the county jail for a term
not to exceed thirty (30) days. The continuation of such violation for each
successive day shall constitute a separate offense, and the person or persons
allowing or permitting the continuation of a violation may be punished as
provided above for each separate offense.
