[Ord. No. 543, 2/16/2022]
The purpose of this Part is to prohibit and to regulate the
keeping and feeding of feral cats within the Borough in order to promote
the health, safety and general welfare of its inhabitants.
[Ord. No. 543, 2/16/2022]
For the purpose of this Part, the following terms shall have
the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context
in which the word is used clearly indicates otherwise:
NUISANCE
Any use of property within the Borough of Hatfield or any
condition upon any property within the said Borough that, other than
infrequently or occasionally, shall cause or result in annoyance or
disturbance to persons beyond the boundaries of such property; interference
to the health and/or safety of persons beyond the boundaries of such
property; and/or disturbance to or interference with the peaceful
use of the property of others in the Borough, in any case taking into
consideration the location of the use or condition, and the nature
and condition of the surrounding neighborhood.
OWNER
Any person having a right of property in, having custody
of, or who harbors a cat to remain on or around his or her property.
PERSON
A natural person, firm, partnership, association or corporation.
[Ord. No. 543, 2/16/2022]
It shall be unlawful for any owner of any cat to permit such
cat to run free outside the residence of its owner or keeper unless
such cat has been:
1. Neutered
or spayed to prevent procreating;
2. Immunized
against rabies in compliance with Pennsylvania law; and
3. Identified
by means of a collar with a tag or a microchip. The identification
must provide the owner's name and contact information.
[Ord. No. 543, 2/16/2022]
1. It shall
be unlawful and deemed a nuisance subject to penalties under this
Part for any person to feed six or more feral cats at one time or
in one location.
2. If the
feeding of feral cats results in the gathering of six or more cats
in one location, it shall be automatically deemed a nuisance subject
to penalties under this Part.
3. It shall be unlawful and deemed a nuisance subject to penalties under this Part for any person to cause feral cat(s) to habitually trespasses upon or damage either private or public property, or annoy, disturb the peace and quiet of the surrounding neighbors between the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., or harm lawful users or occupants thereof, or violate the provisions of §
2-202, Noise Disturbance.
[Ord. No. 543, 2/16/2022]
Any person, organization, firm or corporation who shall violate
any provision of this Part or is found to be causing a nuisance as
described in this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought
before a Magisterial District Judge in the manner provided for the
enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal
Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $100
and not more than $1,000, plus costs, and, in default of payment of
said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days.
A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day or part of
each day during which a violation occurs or continues. Each day that
a violation of this chapter continues or each section of this chapter
which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate
offense.
[Ord. No. 543, 2/16/2022]
The provisions of this Part, as far as they are the same as
those of ordinances in force immediately prior to the enactment of
this Part, are intended as a continuation of such ordinances and not
as new enactments. The provisions of this Part shall not affect any
such suit or prosecuting pending or to be instituted to enforce any
right or penalty or to punish any offense under the authority of any
ordinance repealed by this Part.