[Adopted 2-6-2001 by Ord. No. 280]
The following terms, whenever used in this article,
have the meanings indicated in this section, except where the context
indicates a different meaning:
Any cat when it is off the property of its owner and not
restrained by a competent person.
To apprehend, catch, trap, net any cat by the Animal Control
Officer or authorized local agency.
Any premises for the purpose of impounding and caring for
cats.
Any establishment wherein cats or other animals are kept
or maintained for any commercial purpose and which is so constructed
that cats or other mammals cannot stray therefrom. This definition
is to exclude veterinary hospitals, research institutions and nonprofit
animal shelters.
Any person, group of persons, firms or corporations owning,
keeping or harboring a cat or cats or other animals.
Any natural person, corporation, partnership or association.
Occurs when a cat is controlled by a leash or chain not exceeding
six feet in length.
It shall be the duty of every Animal Control
Officer or authorized agency to seize and detain any cat which is
running at large either upon the public streets, highways, alleys
or public grounds or upon the property of other than the owner of
such dog, cat or other animal and not restrained by the owner or keeper
thereof.
A.
No person shall keep or harbor any cat in the Township
of Chartiers 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 hereinafter.
B.
Any cat which, by frequent and habitual howling, screeching,
or in any way or manner injures or 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.
It shall be unlawful for any owner or person having custody of such
cat to harbor or permit it to commit such a nuisance.
C.
Any cat which scratches, digs or defecates upon any
lawn, tree, shrub, hedge, flower, 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.
D.
No person being the owner or in charge or control
of any cat shall allow or permit such cat to commit a nuisance on
any school grounds, Township park, parklet, playgrounds or other public
property or upon any private property other than that of the owner
or person in charge or control of such cat or without the permission
of the owner of said property. Where the owner or person in charge
or control of such cat immediately removes all feces deposited by
such cat and disposes of same in a sanitary manner, such nuisance
shall be considered abated.
A.
Confinement. It shall be unlawful for the owner of
any cat which bites any person, regardless of the circumstances or
whether the cat is vaccinated for rabies protection or not, not to
confine said cat, either within an enclosure at home or a veterinary
hospital, for a period of not less than 10 days following the evening
of the day of the bite.
B.
Test required. It shall be unlawful to destroy any
cat which should, for any reason, die during the ten-day quarantine,
be it at home, a pound or a veterinary hospital. Instead, the head
shall be removed and submitted, within 12 hours following the animal's
death, to any qualified official laboratory for examination. The head,
when submitted, shall be accompanied by a full description of the
cat's breed, sex, age and vaccination, if any, the owner's name, address,
telephone number and the name, address and telephone number of persons
bitten.
Any cat which has been exposed to rabies should
be destroyed immediately unless herein otherwise provided. If the
owner is unwilling to do this, one of the following alternatives must
be followed:
A.
Strict isolation in a kennel or animal hospital for
six months.
B.
If no previous vaccination has been given with an
approved modified live-virus vaccine or within one year using an inactivated
vaccine, there must be administered postexposure treatment and confinement
in a kennel for three months.
C.
If the cat has been vaccinated previously within one
year with an inactivated vaccine or within three years with an approved
modified live-virus vaccine, the animal must be revaccinated and restrained
by a leash or confined at home for 30 days.
Any person who violates or permits a violation
of this article shall, upon being found liable therefor in a civil
enforcement proceeding commenced by the Township before a Magisterial
District Judge, pay a fine of not more than $600, plus all court costs,
including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred by the Township in
the enforcement of this article. No judgment shall be imposed until
the date of the determination of the violation by the Magisterial
District Judge. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the
judgment, the Township may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable
Rules of Civil Procedure. Each day a violation exists shall constitute
a separate offense. Further, the appropriate officers or agents of
the Township are hereby authorized to seek equitable relief, including
injunction, to enforce compliance herewith.
