[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of College 9-19-1996 by Ord. No. O-96-09. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Disorderly conduct — See Ch. 93.
Ordinance enforcement — See Ch. 136.
Animals in parks and recreation areas — See Ch. 139.
Fees — See Ch. A203.
This chapter shall be known as the "College Township Dog and Cat Ordinance."
This chapter is authorized by Second Class Township Code Sections 1529 (Nuisances); 1530 (Regulation of dogs); 1527 (Public safety); and 1506 (General powers).[1] The contents of this chapter shall accompany but shall not supersede any laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. §§ 66529, 66530, 66527 and 66506.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CAT OWNER
When applied to the proprietorship of a cat, every person having a right of property in any cat, and every person who keeps or harbors any cat or has it in his/her care, and every person who permits any cat to remain on or about any premises occupied by him/her.
CONTINUOUS BARKING
Sustained barking by a dog.
DOG ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
Any Municipal Dog Control Officer, State Dog Warden, agents of animal control organizations or any duly sworn law enforcement officer authorized to enforce the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and ordinances of the Township of College.
DOG OWNER
When applied to the proprietorship of a dog, every person having a right of property in any dog, and every person who keeps or harbors any dog or has it in his/her care, and every person who permits any dog to remain on or about any premises occupied by him/her.
HABITUAL CRIES
Sustained or continuous crying or howling.
KEEPER
Any person who shall possess, maintain, house or harbor any dog, or otherwise have custody of any dog, whether or not the owner of such dog, whether for compensation or otherwise.
ORDINANCE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
The Ordinance Enforcement Officer of the Township of College, Centre County, Pennsylvania.
POLICE OFFICER
Any person employed or elected by this commonwealth or by any municipality whose duty is to preserve peace or to make arrests or to enforce the law. The term includes state constabulary, dog, game, fish and forest wardens.
PREMISES
A tract of land, including buildings.
REPETITIVE BARKING
Barking by a dog at frequent intervals.
Confinement and control shall be in accordance with the Pennsylvania Dog Law Section 305.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 3 P.S. § 459-305.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any owner or keeper to harbor any dog which barks repetitively during any given one-hour period, or which barks continuously for a period of 15 consecutive minutes or more, and which is audible on any adjacent property or public right-of-way.
B. 
Upon the first and second offenses the dog owner or keeper shall be given written warning notices by personal service or certified mail, return receipt requested. It shall be a condition precedent to any enforcement proceeding to show that two written warnings were issued to the dog owner or keeper within the previous twelve-month period.
A. 
The owner or keeper shall immediately remove and dispose of all feces deposited by any dog on private or public property not under the control of the owner or keeper of such dog. The owner or keeper shall dispose of feces in a sanitary manner.
(1) 
It shall be unlawful for any owner or keeper of any dog to allow feces to accumulate on private property, owned or controlled by the owner or keeper, to a level which is detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of persons or property, as determined by the College Township Ordinance Enforcement Officer or police officer conducting the investigation of the property.
(2) 
The owner of any property where dog feces has been allowed to accumulate to a level which is detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of persons or property, as determined by the College Township Ordinance Enforcement Officer or police officer conducting the investigation of the property, shall be ordered to remove and dispose of such accumulation of feces in a sanitary manner within a period of five days.
(3) 
Notice to such property owner shall be provided, in writing, to the dog owner or keeper by personal service or by certified mail, return receipt requested, sent to the dog owner or keeper. If the dog owner is not available, notice may be given by posting the property at a conspicuous place. Each five-day period after service or posting of notice that the property remains in a condition which is detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of persons or property shall constitute a separate offense.
B. 
The accumulation of dog feces upon private property is declared to be a public nuisance.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to keep or harbor any cat which habitually cries or howls.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to allow a cat to habitually roam unwelcome onto someone else's property. Any cat 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 such animal is hereby declared to be a nuisance.
C. 
Upon the first and second offenses the cat owner or keeper shall be given written warning notices by personal service or certified mail, return receipt requested. It shall be a condition precedent to any enforcement proceeding to show that two written warnings were issued to the cat owner or keeper within the previous twelve-month period.
Keeping of kennels, dog training or grooming is permitted only in districts designated by the College Township Zoning Ordinance[1] and in accordance with the Pennsylvania Dog Law Sections 206, 207, 208, 209 and 210.[2]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 200, Zoning.
[2]
Editor's Note: See 3 P.S. § 459-206, 459-207, 459-208, 459-209 and 459-210.
A. 
The Ordinance Enforcement Officer of the Township of College, any police officer or dog officer empowered to enforce the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Township of College shall hereby be authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
Any person who shall violate any provision of § 95-4, 95-5, 95-6, 95-7 or 95-8 of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof before a District Justice, be subject to a civil fine as set forth in the schedule below plus all costs of prosecution, including court costs and reasonable attorney fees incurred by the municipality in accordance with Section 1601(c) of the Second Class Township Code, as amended November 9, 1995 (Public Law 350, No. 60), as amended.[1] The range of fines shall be as follows:
(1) 
First violation: $25.
(2) 
Second violation: $50.
(3) 
Third and subsequent violations: $600.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 66601.