[Ord. 135, 11/21/1978; as amended at time of adoption of
Code (see Ch. AO)]
The following words and terms, as used in this Part, shall have
the meanings hereby respectively ascribed thereto, except where the
context clearly indicates a different meaning:
All nonhuman vertebrate and invertebrate species, whether
wild or domestic, commonly considered to be part of the animal kingdom.
An animal which is not prohibited by this section and which
is domesticated by man so as to live and/or breed in a tamed condition.
Excluding wild and dangerous animals prohibited by this Part.
Any domestic animal of the bovine, equine, sheep, goat, llama,
alpaca, hooved animal family and hog family.
[Amended by Ord. No. 509, 11/4/2020]
Any domestic animal such as a rabbit, hare, guinea pig, rat,
mouse, or chinchilla; and any domestic fowl such as a chicken, turkey,
goose, duck or pigeon (except homing pigeons).
To keep or contain upon private property or to permit another
to keep or contain upon private property.
Any dog, cat, or other domestic animal normally and ordinarily
kept in or permitted to be at large in the dwelling of its owner,
excluding wild or dangerous animals prohibited by this Part.
Any person, group of persons, firm, partnership, association
or corporation.
Any animal which is wild, fierce, dangerous, noxious, venomous
or naturally inclined to do harm. Wild or dangerous animals, however
domesticated, shall also include but not be limited to:
Amphibians: All venomous amphibians.
Bear (Ursidae): All bear, including grizzly bears, brown bears,
black bears, etc.
Cat family (Felidae): All except commonly accepted domestic
cats, including lions, puma, panthers, mountain lions, leopards, jaguars,
ocelots, margays, tigers, wild cats, etc.
Crocodilians: All alligators, caimans, crocodiles, gavials,
etc.
Dog family (Canidae): All except domesticated dogs, including
wolf, fox, coyote, dingo or domesticated dog bred with a wolf, fox,
coyote, dingo, etc.
Porcupine (Erethizontidae): all porcupines, etc.
Primates (Hominidae): All subhuman primates, etc.
Raccoons (Procyodinae): All raccoons, civets, opossums, armadillos,
etc.
Reptiles: All venomous and constricting snakes, venomous lizards,
and all other venomous reptiles, etc.
Spiders: All venomous spiders.
Weasels (Mustelidae): All including weasels, skunks, mink, wolverine,
badgers, otters, ermine, mongoose, etc.
[Ord. 135, 11/21/1978; as amended at time of adoption of
Code (see Ch. AO)]
1.
It shall
be unlawful for any person to keep or harbor a wild or dangerous animal
at any place within the Township of Richland, except where the same
may be permitted in a zoological park, veterinary hospital, animal
humane society/shelter or educational/scientific facility. All locations
where wild or dangerous animals are kept or harbored must secure said
animals within cages, fences and other protective devices adequate
to prevent such animals from escaping or injuring the public or causing
a health hazard.
2.
Any person
keeping or harboring a wild or dangerous animal as defined herein
shall conspicuously display a warning sign that there is a wild or
dangerous animal on the premises.
3.
Any person
who harbors a wild or dangerous animal under this section shall maintain
general liability insurance coverage for any personal injury cause
by the wild or dangerous animal.
4.
Disposition
and Impoundment. Any person who keeps a wild or dangerous animal in
contravention of this section must dispose of the animal by removal
of the animal from the Township or turning it over to the Township
as directed by the Township official or agent. The Township official or agent is authorized
to release the animal to a zoological park, or to dispose of the animal
in some humane manner. The cost of removal and/or placement at a park
or other facility is to be borne by the owner.
[Ord. 135, 11/21/1978; as amended at time of adoption of
Code (see Ch. AO)]
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any domestic animal, except household pets, except as provided in this § 2-303.
A.
Large animals shall be confined in quarters no part of which shall
be closer than 100 feet to any dwelling or of any lot line.
B.
Small animals shall be kept confined in quarters no part of which
shall be closer than 25 feet to any dwelling or of any lot line and
no less than 60 feet from any street right-of-way-line.
C.
The keeper of every such domestic animal shall confine the same in
an enclosure sufficient to prevent such animal from running at large.
Such enclosure shall be of a size conducive to good sanitary practices
and adequate and sanitary drainage facilities shall be provided.
D.
Every keeper of large or small domestic animals shall keep the animals
in a manner so as not to create offensive odors or unsanitary conditions
which are a menace to health, comfort or safety of adjoining property
owners or the public.
E.
Every keeper of a domestic animal shall cause all feed provided therefor
to be stored and kept in a ratproof and flytight building, box, container
or receptacle.
[Ord. 135, 11/21/1978; as amended at time of adoption of
Code (see Ch. AO)]
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any household pet, except as provided in this § 2-304:
1.
If any such pet shall be kept in a dwelling owned or occupied by
its owner, such owner shall be required to follow such procedures
and practices as to the number of such pets to be kept there, and
as to sanitation, to insure that no public nuisance shall be created
or maintained, and no threat to the health of persons living elsewhere
than in such dwelling shall be created.
2.
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or harbor a dog, cat
or other animal in a manner which constitutes a nuisance. No person
shall permit a dog, cat or other animal to commit a nuisance upon
any school grounds or other public property or upon any private property
other than that of the owner or person in charge of such animal; provided,
however, if the owner or person in charge of such animal immediately
removes all feces deposited by such animal and disposes of same in
a sanitary manner, such type of nuisances shall be considered abated.
3.
Household
Pet Prohibitions.
A.
Household
pets shall not be permitted to be kept in a manner so as to create
offensive odors or unsanitary conditions which are menace to the health,
comfort or safety of the public;
B.
Household
pets shall not be permitted to habitually bark, howl, screech, yelp,
bay or create other loud noises thereby disturbing the quiet of any
person or the community; or
C.
Household
pets shall not be permitted to scratch, dig, or defecate 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.
4.
For the
purpose of this section, barking, howling, screeching, yelping, baying
or other loud animal noises shall be defined as habitual when they
occur at frequent intervals or for 10 consecutive minutes or more
during any one-hour period where such noise is audible on any adjacent
or nearby property or on the public right-of-way.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. AO)]
Sworn law enforcement officers are empowered to enforce provisions
of this Part.
[Ord. 135, 11/21/1978; as amended by Ord. 278, 9/18/1991;
by Ord. 325, 7/3/1996; by Ord. 336, 2/5/1997; and at time of adoption
of Code (see Ch. AO)]
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this Part
shall, upon being found liable therefore 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
attorneys' fees, incurred by the Township in the enforcement of this
Part. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgement,
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.
[Ord. 135, 11/21/1978]
Any violation of this Part which would also violate any State
law shall be prosecuted under that State law and not under this Part.
