Township of Lower Gwynedd, PA Animals

Running at Large. No owner, custodian or keeper of livestock shall permit such livestock to run at large at any time either upon any of the streets or public grounds in the Township, or upon the property of any person other than the owner, custodian or keeper of such livestock, unless such livestock is accompanied by and under the immediate control of such owner, custodian or keeper.

(c)

Fence Required. Every owner, custodian or keeper of premises upon which livestock is housed, stabled, penned or otherwise kept shall erect and maintain around the area in which such livestock is permitted to graze unattended a fence with appropriate locks and closing devices of sufficient height and strength to restrain the livestock from leaving such area.

(d)

Seizure and Detention. The Township Police, or other duly authorized representatives of the Township, are hereby authorized to seize and detain any livestock which are found running at large in violation of this section. The Township Police, or other duly authorized representatives of the Township, are hereby authorized to go upon any land to seize and detain any livestock which are found running at large in violation of this section.

(e)

Notice of Detention; Expenses. Any livestock seized by or on behalf of the Township shall be detained, properly kept and fed, and immediate notice shall be given to the owner, custodian or keeper to claim such livestock within twenty-four hours. Any livestock not claimed may be sold by the Township in order to satisfy costs to the Township of seizing, detaining and keeping such livestock. The owner of the livestock so detained shall pay all expenses incurred by reason of its detention, plus any penalty imposed hereunder, before the livestock is returned.

(f)

Nuisances Prohibited. All livestock shall be kept in clean sanitary stables and pens, free from accumulations of manure or other debris, and in such condition as will not cause a nuisance to any resident of the Township by unsightliness, odor or the flow of waste onto other property.

§ 620.02 Dog regulations.

[Ord. 77. Passed 8-17-1964; Ord. 407. Passed 2-18-2003]

(a)

Dogs at Large Prohibited.

[Amended 8-23-2016 by Ord. No. 509]

(1)

As used in this Section 620.02, the term "at large" shall refer to any dog that is not restrained by the dog's owner or keeper with a leash having a length of not more than 10 feet.

(2)

It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any dog, licensed or unlicensed, to permit such dog to run at large over the streets, public grounds or property, or upon the private property of anyone other than the owner or person having custody of the dog or of the property of anyone who has consented to the dog being at large on their property. The owner or keeper of the dog must be of appropriate age and discretion to properly control the actions of the dog.

(b)

Seizure and Detention of Dogs. The Township Police and Township Dog Catcher shall seize and detain any dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, which is found running at large, either upon the public streets of the Township or upon the property of a person other than the owner or keeper of such dog. The Township Police and Township Dog Catcher are hereby authorized to go upon any land to seize and detain any dog which is found running at large unaccompanied by the owner or keeper.

(c)

Notice and Redemption. Any dog seized by a police officer or the Dog Catcher of the Township shall be detained, properly kept and fed, and immediate notice, either personal or by registered mail, shall be given to the person in whose name the dog license was procured, or his or her agent, or to the owner of the dog not having a license, provided such owner is known, to claim such dog within ten days. The owner of the dog so detained shall pay $5.00 a day, or any part thereof, to cover expenses incurred by reason of its detention, plus the seizure fee and any penalty imposed hereunder, before the dog is returned.

(d)

Disposal of Unclaimed Dogs. Any dog not claimed in accordance with this section shall be disposed of in accordance with State law.

(e)

Intent. This section shall be supplemental to any laws of the Commonwealth, previously or subsequently adopted, covering dogs within the Commonwealth and specifically in the Township.

(f)

Contract for Services of Dog Catcher; Compensation. The proper officers of the Township are hereby authorized to enter into such agreements or contracts with any individual or corporation, providing that such individual or corporation will act as Township Dog Catcher, as may be reasonably necessary to implement this section in regard to the seizure, care and custody of dogs detained by the Township pursuant to this section. Such officers are further authorized to provide for reasonable compensation of such person for such services, or a fee or other basis of compensation which shall be charged against the owners or keepers of dogs that are seized and detained.

(g)

Disturbing Noise Prohibited. It shall be illegal within the Township of Lower Gwynedd for any person or persons to own, possess, harbor or control any dog which makes any noise continuously and/or incessantly for a period of 15 minutes or makes such noise intermittently for 30 minutes or more to the disturbance of any person any time of day or night, regardless of whether the dog is physically situated in or upon private property; provided, however, that at the time the dog is making such noise, no person is trespassing or threatening to trespass upon the land or property where the dog is situated nor is there any other legitimate cause which is justifiably provoking the dog.

(h)

Digging or Defecation to be Nuisance. The digging, scratching or defecation upon any lawn, tree, shrub, plant, building or any other public or private property, other than the property of the owner or keeper of the dog, is hereby declared a nuisance.

(i)

Owners Not to Permit Nuisances. No person having possession, custody or control of any dog shall knowingly or negligently permit any dog to commit any nuisance upon any gutter, street, driveway, 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, 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.

(j)

Responsibility of Owners. Any person having possession, custody or control of any dog or other animal which defecates in any area other than the private property of the owner of such dog or other animal shall be required to immediately remove the feces from such surface and carry the feces in a nonleaking container to a place or container of proper disposal.

(k)

Exceptions. The provisions of Section 620.02 (i) and (j) shall not apply to a guide dog accompanying any blind person or to a dog used to assist any other physically handicapped person or to any dog assisting a police officer or involved in any fire or rescue effort.

(l)

Injury to Human Beings. It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any dog to permit the dog to injure any human being by biting, jumping on, knocking down or attacking another human being.

(m)

Threatening Dogs. Any dog that, in the opinion of any police officer or dog catcher which is supported by documented evidence, constitutes an immediate, serious threat to public health and welfare, may be captured and/or destroyed by the police or dog catcher.

§ 620.99 Penalty.

[Ord. 407. Passed 2-18-2003]

Any owner, keeper, person, firm, association or corporation who violates any provision of this chapter, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine not less than $25 or more than $1,000, or sentenced to imprisonment for a term not less than five days or more than 90 days.