[Adopted 9-11-1984 as Ord. No. 1097]
As used in this ordinance, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
OWNER
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:
(1) 
Carry same away for disposal in a toilet; or
(2) 
Place same in a nonleaking container for deposit in a trash or litter receptacle.
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.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 36-9, Violations and penalties. was repealed 4-21-1987 by Ord. No. 1156. See now Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II, General Penalty, for current penalty provisions.
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.
Springfield Township, Chapter 36, Article I, provided by Ordinance No. 499, enacted March 30, 1954, relating to animal control, is hereby repealed.