[Adopted 9-3-1991 by Ord. No. 92]
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.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 3, which set forth noise regulations and which immediately followed this section, was deleted 12-1-1998 by Ord. No. 129.
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.