[Ord. 737, 1/19/2017]
It shall be unlawful for any owner or keeper of any cat to permit
such cat to run free outside the residence of its owner or keeper
unless said cat has been:
[Ord. 737, 1/19/2017]
Cat colonies create unwanted noise, trespass on private and
public lands, are responsible for the deaths of native songbirds and
other animals, exist in unsanitary conditions that contribute to the
spread of diseases, and increase the production of fleas, lice, ticks
and other disease carriers. The Township finds that a properly managed
cat colony is a humane means to reduce populations over a period of
time only when management guidelines are set forth and strictly adhered
to. The Animal Control Officer shall inspect and regulate any proposed
or actual cat colony location and approve or deny its development
or maintenance.
A.
It is unlawful for any person or organization to intentionally provide
food, water, shelter or other forms of sustenance or care to a feral
cat colony/colonies on public or private land unless the person or
organization has registered the feral cat colony/colonies annually
with the Animal Control Officer and must adhere to the following requirements:
(1)
Sterilize (spay or neuter) all adult cats that can be captured.
(2)
Vaccinate all cats that can be captured against rabies, preferably
with a three-year vaccine.
(3)
Make every attempt to remove kittens from the colony before eight
weeks of age for domestication and placement.
(4)
Make every attempt to remove sick or injured cats from the colony
for immediate veterinarian care or humane euthanasia.
(5)
Assure responsibility and arrangements for feeding the cat colony
regularly throughout the year, including weekends and holidays.
(6)
Make every attempt to ear tip all cats with a single cut preferably
on the left ear.
(7)
Maintain proof of sterilization, vaccination, ear tipping and medical
records for all cats. Records must be provided to the Animal Control
Officer upon request.
B.
Any person or caregiver determined to be in violation of Subsection A(1) through (7) above shall be issued a written warning and be allowed a period of time in the discretion of the Animal Control Officer, but not longer than 60 days, to come into compliance, or provide satisfactory evidence of working to achieve compliance. Failure to comply shall result in a violation of this Part 4, which may result in the issuance of a citation.
C.
The Township has the right to seize/remove the colony on public or
private property because of public health and safety concerns, creating
a public nuisance or when the cat caretaker fails to abide by the
requirements set forth in this section.
[Ord. 737, 1/19/2017]
Any person, organization, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this Part 4, 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 $500, 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 Part 4 continues or each section of this Part 4 which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.
