[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Altoona as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Noise — See Ch. 470.
Nuisances — See Ch. 474.
Parks and recreational facilities — See Ch. 510.
[Adopted 3-22-1995 by Ord. No. 5367]
No person having the ownership, care, or custody of any animal shall knowingly or willfully bring such animal into the confines of the City Hall Building, located at 1301 12th Street, Altoona, Pennsylvania, or any other public building under the ownership or control of the City of Altoona.
This article shall not apply to any dog whose purpose is to guide or aid the visually handicapped, any dog under the control or supervision of a law enforcement official commonly known as a "K-9," or for any person whose business with the City of Altoona would require the bringing of the animal into the confines of the building in order to conduct such business.
Any person in violation of this article shall be guilty of a summary offense and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 or be imprisoned for a period not to exceed 90 days, or both.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[Adopted 10-8-1997 by Ord. No. 5434]
As used in this article, certain terms are defined as follows:
AT LARGE
Any dog or other animal when it is off the property of its owner and not restrained by the owner, keeper or another competent person.
CAT
Any member of the genus and species known as Felis domesticus, male, female or alter.
CATTERY
Any indoor housing facility wherein cats are kept for the purpose of leasing, buying, sale, boarding, show, breeding, exchange or placement as pets or other similar purpose and is so constructed that the cats cannot stray therefrom.
DOG
Any member of the genus and species known as Canis familiaris, male, female or alter.
FEEDING
The act of giving food to an animal to sustain its ability to live. This includes placing food in bowls or receptacles outside a home or primary structure for the purpose of consumption such that animals are able to access it without further human intervention.
[Added 8-12-2020 by Ord. No. 5769]
FERAL CAT
An unowned free-roaming cat that is partially socialized or unsocialized to humans and tends to resist contact with humans.
[Added 8-12-2020 by Ord. No. 5769]
HYBRID
Any canine whose known ancestry includes a species other than Canis familiaris or any feline whose known ancestry includes a species other than Felis domesticus.
IMPOUND
To apprehend, catch, trap, net or if necessary to kill any animal by the local police department or authorized local agency.
IMPOUNDING FACILITIES
Any premises for the purpose of impounding and caring for animals.
KENNEL
Any indoor housing facility wherein dogs are kept for the purpose of breeding, hunting, training, leasing, buying, boarding, sale, show, exchange or placement as pets or other similar purpose and is so constructed that dogs cannot stray therefrom.
MAMMAL
Any of the mammalia class of higher vertebrates comprising animals that nourish their young with milk secreted by mammary glands and have the skin more or less covered with hair. For purposes of this article, man is excluded from the term mammal.
NONDOMESTIC CANINE
Any species of the genus Canis other than Canis familiaris.
NONDOMESTIC FELINE
Any species of the genus Felis other than Felis domesticus.
OWNER
When applied to the proprietorship of a dog or cat, includes every person having a right of property in the dog or cat and every person who keeps or harbors the dog or cat or has it in his or her care, and every person who permits the dog or cat to remain on or about any premises occupied by him or her
RESTRAINT or RESTRAINED
When dog or other animal is controlled by leash or chain not exceeding six feet in length or when a dog or other animal is confined to the owner's property.
STRAY CAT
A cat that has been socialized to humans at some point in its life, but has left or lost its domestic home, as well as most human contact and dependence.
[Added 8-12-2020 by Ord. No. 5769]
VETERINARIAN
A doctor of veterinary medicine who is graduated from an accredited and recognized school of veterinary medicine, and possesses a license to practice veterinary medicine.
A. 
No person shall keep, harbor or maintain a dog over the age or three months unless the owner obtains a license from the City of Altoona Finance Department.
B. 
The provisions of this section shall not apply to dogs whose owners are within the City for 60 days or less or to dogs brought into this City for the purpose of participating in a dog show or similar event.
C. 
The license year shall be from January 1 to December 31 of each year. License year shall become effective January 1, 1998.
The owner shall state at the time the application is made for a license, and upon printed forms provided for the purpose, his or her name, address, telephone number and the name, breed, color and sex of each dog.
No person shall keep, harbor or maintain a cat that roams freely unless the owner identifies the cat or cats with an identification collar or tag that shall clearly and legibly state the cat owner's name, address and telephone.
Proof of a dog's or cat's current rabies vaccination shall be provided to an employee of the City of Altoona Dog Law Enforcement Officer upon request.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
[Amended 6-26-2002 by Ord. No. 5509]
A. 
Before a license is issued, fees shall be paid to the City of Altoona Finance Department according to the fee schedule adopted by resolution of the City Council.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
B. 
Licenses are to be issued without charge to guide dogs, service dogs or hearing dogs which are properly trained to assist the blind or deaf persons.
C. 
All kennels shall be required to have the owner purchase and place a license on every dog placed from that kennel.
D. 
The City Finance Department shall provide licenses to nonprofit shelters located within the City limits to be distributed free of charge to the dogs and cats placed with City residents.
E. 
The City may authorize certain businesses and organizations to issue licenses, and they may surcharge their customers $0.50 for this service.
A. 
Tag and collar. Upon payment of the license fee, there shall be issued to the owner a tag for each dog licensed. The tag shall be changed every year and shall have stamped thereon the year for which it was issued. Every owner shall be required to provide each dog which ventures upon the public streets, sidewalks or other public places with a collar to which license tag shall be affixed. The tag number, preceded by the letters "ALT" and the license year, written clearly and legibly upon the collar, shall be regarded as an acceptable substitute for the presence of the tag upon the collar.
B. 
Nontransferable and nonrefundable. License tags or numbers shall not be transferable from one dog to another and no refunds shall be made on license fee because of the death of dog or the owner leaving the City before expiration of the licensed period.
C. 
Lost or stolen tags. Tags that are lost or stolen may be reissued for the same dog upon payment of a fee for lost or stolen tags established by resolution of the City Council.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
No person, whether as owner or person in possession, shall permit his or her dog to run at large upon the public streets, sidewalks or other public places, or upon the property of another. A dog shall be restrained by the use of a leash, or a chain not exceeding six feet in length, at all times when upon public places, streets and parks.
A. 
No person shall keep or harbor any dog, cat or other animal in the City so as to create offensive odors, excessive noise or unsanitary conditions which are a menace to the health, comfort or safety of the public, or otherwise permit the commission or existence of a nuisance as defined herein.
B. 
Any dog, cat or other animal, which by frequent and habitual barking, howling, screeching, yelping or baying, or in any way or manner disturbs the quiet of any person or the community, or which disturbs or endangers the comfort, repose or health of persons, is hereby declared to be committing a nuisance. No owner or person having custody of the animal shall harbor or permit it to commit a nuisance.
C. 
Any dog, cat or other animal which scratches, digs or defecates upon any lawn, tree, shrub, plant, building or any other public or private property, other than the property of the owner or person in charge or control of the animal, is hereby declared to be a nuisance.
D. 
No person, being the owner or in charge or control of any dog, cat or other animal, shall permit the animal to commit a nuisance on any school grounds, City park or other public property, or upon any private property other than that of the owner or person in charge or control of the dog, cat or other animal without the permission of the owner of the property. Where the owner or person in charge or control of the animal immediately removes all feces deposited by the animal and disposes of same in a sanitary manner, the type of nuisance shall be considered abated.
E. 
Persons with physical handicaps, defective eyesight or hearing while relying upon a dog specifically trained for these purposes shall be exempt from compliance with Subsections C and D hereof.
F. 
Any female dog or cat in season shall be kept properly confined indoors.
G. 
No person shall feed any stray or feral cats, where such feeding causes a nuisance to neighbors or creates a condition contrary to the health, safety and welfare of the community. Any person who chooses to feed stray or feral cats shall from such point forward responsible for the care of said animal and shall be required to have it vaccinated for rabies and spayed or neutered.
[Added 8-12-2020 by Ord. No. 5769]
A. 
Dogs and cats shall be provided access to shelter which protects them against inclement weather, keeps them dry and allows them to preserve a normal body temperature.
B. 
If dog houses with chains are used as shelters for dogs kept outside, the chains used shall contain a swivel or be attached to a swivel and shall be placed and attached so that they cannot become entangled with the chains of other dogs or another object. The chains shall be a type commonly used for the size and type of dog involved and shall be attached to the dog by means of a well-fitted buckle-type collar. The chains shall be at least three times the length of the dog as measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail, but no less than 10 feet in length and shall allow the dog convenient access to the dog house.
C. 
No animal may be housed on a temporary or permanent basis in any shelter constructed of uninsulated metal.
No person or residence shall be permitted to own, harbor or maintain a nondomestic canine, a nondomestic feline or hybrid within the City limits. This section shall not affect any animal owned by a person living within the City limits prior to the effective date of this section. This section shall not apply to any educational, institutional, zoological garden or circus.
A. 
Every police officer or other authorized agency shall impound every dog at large.
B. 
After the impounding of any animal, if the animal is licensed, there shall be an attempt to notify the owner. The owner of any impounded animal may reclaim the animal upon payment of all costs and charges incurred by the City for impounding and maintenance of the animal.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II). Original § 13, Disposition of unclaimed animals, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
In addition to the other duties set forth in this article, the City of Altoona Dog Law Enforcement Officer shall:
A. 
Provide informational service for the public on all mammal inquiries, including licensing and identification requirements, control, City regulations, maintenance and health, disposal, selection, training and instruction, nuisance report referrals, abuse and cruelty; copies of this article shall be available and shall be deemed adequate notice;
B. 
Provide a central mammal lost and found service in conjunction with Animal Control Officers; and
C. 
Provide referrals of humane programs to schools and concerned organizations utilizing voluntary assistance from the local humane groups.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
A. 
An owner or keeper whose dog, cat, nondomestic canine, nondomestic feline or hybrid is found to have bitten someone without provocation while running at large shall be fined $350, plus costs, if it is a first offense. The penalty shall be $1,000, plus costs, for each subsequent offense, and in default thereof, imprisonment not exceeding 72 hours.
B. 
Whoever violates any other provision of this article shall be fined $100, plus costs, if it is a first offense. The penalty shall be $500, plus costs, for each subsequent offense, or imprisonment not exceeding 90 days, or both.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
The City of Altoona Finance Department is hereby authorized and directed to collect and retain all fees and fines associated with the determination and registration of a dangerous dog, issue the appropriate certificates of registration and dangerous dog warning signs and carry out all other duties and functions prescribed by the Dangerous Dog Law, Act 46, Sec. 2, of 1990, May 31, P.L. 213, as amended (3 P.S. § 459-507-A et seq.) whenever a dangerous dog determination from the City of Altoona Dog Law Enforcement Officer has been received by the City of Altoona Finance Department.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).