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PREFACE
Chapter C HOME RULE CHARTER
Chapter 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Chapter 5 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
Chapter 14 AUTHORITIES
Chapter 23 BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND COUNCILS
Chapter 36 FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES
Chapter 51 INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
Chapter 62 PENSIONS
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Chapter 91 SALARIES AND COMPENSATION
Chapter 120 ALARM SYSTEMS
Chapter 127 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
Chapter 141 ANIMALS
Chapter 166 CABLE TELEVISION
Chapter 173 COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY CODE
Chapter 180 CONSTRUCTION CODES
Chapter 185 CONVERSION THERAPY
Chapter 188 CURFEW
Chapter 201 ELECTRIC SERVICE
Chapter 212 FEES
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Chapter 225 FIREWORKS
Chapter 231 FIRE INSURANCE PROCEEDS
Chapter 237 FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION
Chapter 251 FOOD CODE
Chapter 272 GRAFFITI
Chapter 288 HEALTH AND SAFETY
Chapter 295 HISTORICAL AND CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
Chapter 302 HOUSE NUMBERING
Chapter 308 HOUSING
Chapter 317 INVASIVE PLANTS AND NOXIOUS WEEDS
Chapter 325 LAW ENFORCEMENT
Chapter 328 LEAD POISONING PREVENTION
Chapter 332 LIBRARY
Chapter 339 LICENSES AND PERMITS
Chapter 346 LITTER AND ADVERTISING MATERIAL
Chapter 353 LOITERING AND PANHANDLING
Chapter 364 MASSAGE THERAPISTS
Chapter 378 MUNICIPAL CLAIMS AND LIENS
Chapter 387 NOISE
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Chapter 403 PAWNBROKERS
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Chapter 433 PUBLIC ART
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Chapter 442 RECORDS, PUBLIC ACCESS
Chapter 453 SALES
Chapter 460 SCRAP METAL DEALERS
Chapter 467 SEWERS AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL
Chapter 473 SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
Chapter 479 SIDEWALK CAFES
Chapter 485 SIGNS
Chapter 496 SOLID WASTE
Chapter 502 STORAGE FACILITIES
Chapter 505 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Chapter 508 STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
Chapter 515 SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 521 SUSTAINABILITY
Chapter 536 TAMPERING WITH PUBLIC PROPERTY
Chapter 540 TATTOO AND PIERCING ESTABLISHMENTS
Chapter 543 TAX ABATEMENTS
Chapter 546 TAX AMNESTY PROGRAM
Chapter 549 TAXATION
Chapter 555 TREES
Chapter 564 VEHICLE NUISANCES, STORAGE OF
Chapter 570 VEHICLE REPAIR SHOPS
Chapter 576 VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
Chapter 583 VENDING MACHINES
Chapter 600 ZONING
Chapter A610 ANNEXATION OF TERRITORY
Chapter A611 BOND ISSUES AND LOANS
Chapter A612 FRANCHISE AND SERVICES
Chapter A613 GOVERNMENTAL AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
Chapter A614 PLAN APPROVAL
Chapter A615 PUBLIC PROPERTY
Chapter A616 SEWERS
Chapter A617 STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
Chapter A618 WATER
Chapter A619 ZONING; PRIOR ORDINANCES
Chapter DT DERIVATION TABLE
Chapter DL DISPOSITION LIST
§ 141-216. Aggressive dog, vicious animal and dangerous dog determination/permit required.
[Amended 12-28-2009 by Ord. No. 57-2009]
   A.   Determination of aggressive dog/vicious animal. Upon receiving a complaint directed to the Reading Police Department, the Animal Control Officer or any other authorized representative of the City, the Animal Control Officer or the City Police shall make a determination as to whether the dog which is the subject of a complaint shall be determined and deemed to be an aggressive dog, or whether any other animal which is the subject of a complaint shall be deemed and determined to be a vicious animal. The Animal Control Officer shall take into account the definition of dog, aggressive dog, dangerous and vicious animal set forth in § 141.202.
   B.   Notwithstanding the criteria for aggressive dog/vicious animal noted above, no dog or animal will be declared aggressive/vicious for inflicting injury or damage on a person or other animal that was teasing, tormenting, abusing or assaulting the dog/animal as determined by the investigating officer; or upon any person committing or attempting to commit a willful trespass or crime while the dog/animal was taking action to defend or protect a human being within the immediate vicinity of the dog/animal from an attack or assault, as determined by the Investigating Officer.
   C.   Appeal procedure: Within 14 days of the date of the notice of the Police or Animal Control Officer's decision that an animal is vicious or aggressive, the owner of the dog may appeal the decision to the Animal Control Board. The owner of the dog shall send notice of his/her intent to appeal by certified mail to the Animal Control Board, with copies to the Property Maintenance Division and City Clerk. If such an appeal is filed, a hearing shall be commenced within 15 business days of its filing. Within five days of the close of the appeal hearing, the Animal Control Board shall determine whether to uphold or reverse the decision of the Police Officer or Animal Control Officer. The determination shall be sent by first class mail to the appellant. Service is deemed complete if said notice is mailed to the last known address of the owner and is not returned as undeliverable. If the notice is returned, the property will be posted as necessary.
   D.   Determination of dangerous dog. Determination of whether a dog is a dangerous dog shall be made in accordance with Pennsylvania Dog Law, 3 P.S. § 459-101, et seq., specifically under Section 459-502A, as that section may be amended from time to time.
   E.   Permitting. Any person owning an aggressive dog, vicious animal or dangerous dog must register the dog or animal with the City of Reading Property Maintenance Division to enforce the provisions of this Part, pay a fee for such registration to the Designated Animal Control Authority, as set by ordinance and provided in Chapter 212, Fees, and obtain a permit to keep the dog or animal.
   The registration and permit application shall include all of the information detailed at § 141-214.C above, and the premises where such dog or other animal small be kept shall be subject to inspection by the Animal Control Officer as set forth in § 141-214.D above.
   The owner must provide proof at the time of registration that:
      (1)   The dog's rabies vaccination status is current.
      (2)   The dog is licensed for the current year.
      (3)   The dog is microchipped with a permanent ID.
      (4)   Every dog for which the owner is required to obtain a permit must wear a valid permit tag at all times when the animal is off the premises of its owner. The permit tag shall be issued and be made of highly visible material with the words "aggressive dog" or "vicious animal" prominently displayed upon it.
   F.   Upon licensing an aggressive dog or dangerous dog or vicious animal, the owner shall display, in a conspicuous manner, a sign on his or her premises warning that there is an aggressive dog or dangerous dog or vicious animal on the premises. The sign shall be visible and legible from the sidewalk and street.