[Ord. 3-1983, 3/7/1983, § 1(A)]
It shall be the duty of every owner or keeper of every dog within
the Township of Thornbury to at all times comply with all of the requirements
of any existing laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regulating
the licensing and running of dogs.
[Ord. 3-1983, 3/7/1983, § 1(B)]
It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper or handler of any
dog, at any time whatsoever, to permit such dog to run at large or
to cause any damage to any buildings, lawns, shrubbery or any other
real or personal property, or to cause any annoyance to persons in
the Township of Thornbury such as by persistent barking and/or whining
and/or howling. Failure of any such owner, keeper or handler properly
to curb and restrain his said dog shall subject him to penalties provided
by this article.
[Ord. 3-1983, 3/7/1983, § 1(C)]
1.
It shall be the duty of any owner or keeper of every
dog within the Township of Thornbury at all times to keep such dog
either:
A.
On a leash or such other device as to keep the dog under
the reasonable control of the person then handling such dog.
B.
In an enclosure from which it cannot escape.
C.
Firmly secured by means of a collar and chain or other
device so that it cannot stray beyond the premises on which it is
secured.
D.
Under the reasonable control of the owner or handler or
accompanied by owner or handler.
[Ord. 3-1983, 3/7/1983, § 1(D)]
The word "owner," when applied to the proprietorship of a dog,
shall include every person having a right to proprietorship in such
dog and every person who keeps or harbors such dog or has it in his
care, and every person who permits such dog to remain on or about
any premises occupied by him, and also any person who entices away
the dog of another and keeps such dog in his possession.
[Ord. 3-1983, 3/7/1983, § 1(E)]
The Board of Supervisors of the Township shall have the authority
to appoint special officers, including dog catchers, with full powers
to enforce the provisions of this article, and applicable statutes
prohibiting and regulating the running at large of dogs, prepare complaints
and commit for hearing all persons known to be in violation thereof.
Such special officer or officers shall be under the jurisdiction of
the Board of Township Supervisors and be compensated at a rate of
pay as shall be set by resolution.
[Ord. 3-1983, 3/7/1983, § 1(F)]
The Board of Supervisors shall be authorized to designate a
detention place for dogs seized under the terms hereof.
[Ord. 3-1983, 3/7/1983, § 1(G)]
Such officer or employee shall cause any dog so seized and detained
to be properly kept and fed and shall promptly notify the person in
whose name the dog's license is registered (if such dog is licensed)
either personally or by registered mail to claim such dog within 10
days from the date of its seizure.
[Ord. 3-1983, 3/7/1983, § 1(H); as amended by Ord.
2-2005, 7/6/2005]
The owner of any dog so detained shall pay to the Township the
sum in an amount as established from time to time by resolution of
the Board of Supervisors for each day during which such dog shall
have been detained pursuant hereto, as reasonable expenses incurred
by the Township.
[Ord. 3-1983, 3/7/1983, § 1(I)]
If, after 10 days from the giving of such notice, such dog shall
not have been claimed by its owner and the Township reimbursed for
expenses incurred in and about the detention of such dog, the Township
may authorize its disposition. The proceeds of any such disposition
shall be turned over and paid to the Township.
[Ord. 3-1983, 3/7/1983, § 1(J)]
It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with any officer
in the enforcement of this article.
[Ord. 3-1983, 3/7/1983, § 1(K)]
It shall be unlawful for any person forcibly to cut the leash
of or to take such dog away from any officer having it in his possession
after having found it running at large unaccompanied by owner or keeper.
[Ord. 3-1983, 3/7/1983, § 1(L)]
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article,
upon conviction in a summary proceeding before a District Justice,
shall be sentenced to pay a fine of $10, and for a second offense
to pay a fine of $20, and for a third or succeeding offense a fine
of $100, plus costs of prosecution, and in default of payment of such
fines and costs, to imprisonment in the County Jail for not less than
20 days. In the case of an owner having proprietorship of two or more
dogs, convictions shall be numbered sequentially against the owner,
regardless of the dog involved.
