The following words and phrases when used in
this article shall have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise,
the meanings given to them in this section:
OWNER
When applied to the proprietorship of a pet, "owner" includes
every person having a right of property in such pet, every person
who keeps or harbors such pet or has it in his care and every person
who permits such pet to remain on or about the premises occupied by
him.
PERSONS
Includes owners, individuals, corporations, partnerships
and associations. Singular words shall include the plural. Masculine
words shall include the feminine and neuter.
PET
An animal kept for amusement or companionship, including
but not limited to a cat or dog.
WILD ANIMAL
A wild, dangerous or undomesticated animal which is not of
a species customarily used as an ordinary household pet, but one which
would ordinarily be confined to a zoo, one which would ordinarily
be found in the wilderness of this or any other country or one which
otherwise causes a reasonable person to be fearful of bodily harm
or property damage. Fish in an aquarium are not included in this definition.
It shall now be unlawful for any person to keep,
maintain or have in his possession or under his control a wild animal
within the Township of East Goshen. The provisions of this section
shall not apply to licensed pet shops, menageries, zoological gardens
and circuses, provided that their location and operation conforms
to all applicable standards, specifications and regulations of East
Goshen Township and of all other agencies with jurisdiction over any
aspect of any such operation.
Any person owning, keeping, possessing or harboring
any pet shall promptly remove and properly dispose of, in appropriate
trash receptacles, all feces left by the pet on any public property,
including streets and sidewalks, and on any private property not owned
by such person or lawfully occupied by such person.
[Amended 5-7-1996 by Ord. No. 112; 12-1-1998 by Ord. No.
129]
Any person who violates or permits the violation
of any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof in
a summary proceeding brought before a District Justice under the Pennsylvania
Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall
be subject to the payment of a fine of not less than $100 and not
more than $1,000, plus the costs of prosecution. In default of payment
thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment in the county
prison for a term of not more than 30 days. Each section of this article
violated shall constitute a separate offense and each day or portion
thereof in which a violation of this article is found to exist shall
constitute a separate offense, each of which violations shall be punishable
by a separate fine imposed by the District Justice of not less than
$100 and not more than $1,000, plus the costs of prosecution, or upon
default of payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment
in the county prison for a term of not more than 30 days. All fines
and penalties collected for the violation of this article shall be
paid to the Township Treasurer.