The following words and terms, as used in this article, shall have
the meanings hereby respectively ascribed thereto, except where the
context clearly indicates a different meaning:
ANIMAL
Any domestic animal or fowl, any wild animal or any household
pet.
DOMESTIC ANIMAL
Any animal as hereinafter defined as a household pet, a large
animal or a small animal.
EXOTIC ANIMAL
Any animal that is not normally domesticated in the United
States or is wild by nature. Exotic animals include but are not limited
to any of the following orders and families, whether bred in the wild
or captivity, and also any of their hybrids with domestic species.
The animals listed in parentheses are intended to act as examples
and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list or limit the generality
of each group of animals, unless otherwise specified.
(1)
Nonhuman primates and prosimians (monkeys, chimpanzees, baboons).
(2)
Felidae (lions, tigers, bobcats, lynx, cougars, leopards, jaguars,
not domesticated cats).
(3)
Canidae (wolves, coyotes, foxes, jackals, not domesticated dogs).
(5)
Reptilia (all venomous snakes, all constricting snakes).
(6)
Crocodilia (alligators, crocodiles).
(9)
Artiodactyla (hippopotamuses, giraffes, camels, not cattle or
swine or sheep or goats).
(10)
Procyonidae (raccoons, coatis).
(11)
Marsupialia (kangaroos, opossums).
(12)
Perissodactyla (rhinoceroses, tapirs, not horses or donkeys
or mules).
(13)
Edentata (anteaters, sloths, armadillos).
(14)
Viverridae (mongooses, civets, and genets).
FERAL CAT
An unowned free-roaming cat that is partially socialized
or unsocialized to humans and tends to resist contact with humans.
HOUSEHOLD PET
Any dog, cat, or other domestic animal normally and ordinarily
kept in or permitted to be at large on the premises of its owner.
LARGE ANIMAL
Any domestic animal of the bovine, equine, sheep or hog family
NUISANCE
An animal shall be considered a nuisance if it habitually
trespasses upon or damages either private or public property or annoys
or harms lawful users or occupants thereof.
OWNER
Any person having a right of property in, having custody
of or who harbors or permits a dog, cat, domestic animal or any nondomesticated
animal to remain on or around his or her property, excluding feral
cat caregivers as defined herein.
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership, association or corporation.
PUBLIC NUISANCE
Any animal or animals that:
(1)
Physically attack or molest passersby or passing vehicles;
(2)
Attack or threaten other animals;
(3)
Damage public or private property;
(4)
Bark, whine, howl, or make other sounds common to its species
in an annoying, excessive or continuous manner;
(5)
Are repeatedly at large or unrestrained; or
(6)
Any amount of animals, whether one or more in number, which
constitute a nuisance due to odor or the actual number of animals
on or within the owner's property that is deemed to be offensive
in nature.
(7)
Any person who feeds or leaves out food for wild animals, feral
cats, etc.
RUNNING AT LARGE
Being upon any public highway, street, alley, park or other
public land or upon property of another person other than the owner
and not being firmly secured by means of a collar and chain or other
device so that it cannot stray or not being accompanied by or under
the reasonable contact of some person.
SMALL ANIMAL
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).
STRAY CAT
Any cat whose owner or keeper from time to time allows the
cat to run free off of the property of the owner or keeper.
VICIOUS DOG
A dog determined to be a dangerous dog under Article V-A,
Dangerous Dogs, of the Dog Law (3 P.S. § 459-502-A et seq.).
WILD ANIMAL
Any animal, bird, fowl or reptile not normally or ordinarily
domesticated; not normally or ordinarily raised in this area and climate
as livestock or for work or breeding purposes; or not normally or
ordinarily kept as a household pet.