Article 3
Animals and Fowl

§5-301 Definitions.

The following words and terms, as used in this Article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section, 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 defined in this Section as a household pet, a large animal or a small animal.

Household pet - any dog, cat or other domestic animal normally and ordinarily kept in or permitted to be at large in the dwelling of its owner and any domestic animal such as a pot belly pig, rabbit, hare, guinea pig, mouse, hamster or chinchilla. A household pet shall not include farm pigs or rats.

Large animal - any domestic animal of the bovine, equine or sheep family.

Small animal - any domestic animal such as a rabbit, hare, guinea pig, mouse, hamster or chinchilla; and any domestic fowl such as a chicken, turkey, goose, duck or pigeon (except homing pigeons).

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.

(Ord. 1984-1, 7/9/1984, §5-3001; as amended by Ord. 2017-3, 4/10/2017, §4)

§5-302 Unlawful to Keep Pigs or Maintain Pig Pens; Exception.

It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any pig or hog at any place within the Borough, or to maintain any pig pen or hog pen anywhere in the Borough. Provided; these prohibitions shall not apply on any property lawfully used or zoned for agriculture.

(Ord. 1984-1, 7/9/1984, §5-3002)

§5-303 Unlawful to Keep Wild Animals; Exception.

It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any wild animal at any place within the Borough, except where permitted under the Zoning Ordinance [Chapter 14] for breeding, or in a park, zoological garden or similar establishment for exhibit to the public or any portion of the public.

(Ord. 1984-1, 7/9/1984, §5-3003)

§5-304 Conditions for Keeping Domestic Animals.

It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any domestic animal, except household pets, except as provided in this Section:

A.    Large animals shall be kept confined in quarters no part of which shall be closer than 100 feet from the exterior limits of any dwelling of any person other than the owner of such animals, and not less than 50 feet from any street, and not less than 15 feet from any property line.

B.    Small animals shall be kept confined in quarters to the rear of the dwelling on the property on which such animals are maintained. Such building shall meet the side and rear yard setbacks as established in the Zoning Ordinance.

C.    The keeper of every such domestic animal shall confine the animal in an enclosure sufficient to prevent the animal from running at large, and that enclosure shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times. The enclosure shall be of a size conducive to good sanitation practices and adequate and sanitary drainage facilities shall be provided.

D.    Every keeper of a domestic animal shall cause the litter and droppings from the animal to be collected daily in a container or receptacle of such a type that, when closed, it shall be rat-proof and fly-tight, and after every such collection shall cause that container or receptacle to be kept closed. At least twice a week, every such keeper shall cause all litter and droppings so collected to be disposed of in such manner as not to permit the presence of fly larvae.

E.    Every keeper of a domestic animal shall cause all feed provided for the animal to be stored and kept in a rat-proof and fly-tight building, box, container or receptacle.

(Ord. 1984-1, 7/9/1984, §5-3004; as amended by Ord. 2017-3, 4/10/2017, §5)

§5-305 Conditions for Keeping Household Pets.

It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any household pet, except as provided in this Section:

A.    If any such pet shall be kept in a dwelling owned or occupied by its owner, the owner shall be required to follow procedures and practices, as to the number of those pets to be kept there, and as to sanitation so as to insure that no public nuisance shall be created or maintained and no threat to the health of persons living elsewhere than in the dwelling shall be created.

B.    If any such pet shall be kept in an enclosure outside the dwelling, the provisions of §5-304, in so far as they apply to small animals, shall be applicable to the keeping of that household pet.

(Ord. 1984-1, 7/9/1984, §5-3005)

§5-306 Applicability of Dog Law.

The Pennsylvania Dog Law, 3 P.S. §459-101 et seq., shall apply to the keeping of dogs in the Borough, as well as to their running at large.

(Ord. 1984-1, 7/9/1984, §5-3006)

§5-307 Applicability of Zoning Ordinance.

Nothing in this Article shall permit any use or occupancy of any land or building in the Borough contrary to any provision of the Borough's Zoning Ordinance [Chapter 14].

(Ord. 1984-1, 7/9/1984, §5-3007)

§5-308 Harboring or Keeping Barking Dogs or Other Domestic Animals.

No person shall allow any dog or other domestic animal which, by frequent barking and noise making, causes a noise disturbance by making sounds continuously for a period of 10 minutes or makes noise intermittently for ½ hour or more to the disturbance of any person any time of the day or night or a disturbance of which shall interfere with or deprive the peace, quiet, rest or sleep of any person within the neighborhood; provided, however, that at the time the animal is making such noise no person is trespassing or threatening to trespass upon private property in or upon which the animal is situated or for any other legitimate cause which teased or provoked the dog or other domestic animal.

(Ord. 2003-2, 3/10/2003, §1)