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[Amended 12-28-2009 by Ord. No. 57-2009]
A. It shall be unlawful for anyone to own, harbor or permit at large any exotic animal, domestic agricultural animal, or native wildlife animal within the City without a permit issued by the Animal Control Board. Such permit shall be given only if it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Board that the animal will not constitute a threat to public health or safety.
B. The application for such permit shall be on a form supplied by the City and shall be submitted to the Property Maintenance Division along with a fee for the first calendar year in an amount as set by ordinance, as provided in Chapter 212, Fees. The fee shall be disbursed partly to the Designated Animal Control Authority and partly to the City to cover the costs of inspections and administration, as provided in Chapter 212, Fees. [Amended 8-26-2013 by Ord. No. 35-2013]
C. The fee is levied per household, not per permitted animal. Fees are nonrefundable.
D. The application form shall include:
(1) The property address
(2) The property owner's name
(3) The applicant's name
(4) The type of exotic animal, domestic agricultural animal or native wildlife animal
(5) The number of animals to be permitted, by species
(6) Description of the animals to be permitted
(7) The purpose of keeping such animals
(8) A description of the quarters in which the animals will be kept and the facilities for sanitation and disposal of animal wastes
(9) Such additional information as may be required.
E. The Animal Control Officer shall visit the address and consider other relevant conditions, including but not limited to:
(1) The odor emanating or likely to emanate from the premises to persons off the premises
(2) The noise emanating or likely to emanate from the premises to persons off the premises
(3) Animals and animal quarters are kept in clean and sanitary condition with adequate ventilation
(4) Animals shall be kept healthy and free from sickness and disease at all times
(5) The security with which the animals will be restrained
(6) Prior complaints regarding animals at the premises.
F. Upon satisfactory inspection and review, a City of Reading permit shall be issued to the applicant, which shall bear an identifying number for the animal(s) and the date of issuance. Unless revoked for violation of this Part, the permit shall be valid for a period up to three years, or for the duration that the animal's rabies vaccination is effective.
G. Upon complaint, the Animal Control Officer and/or Property Maintenance Inspector shall revisit the location to assess the current conditions and may revoke the permit at that time.
[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 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.
[Amended 12-28-2009 by Ord. No. 57-2009]
A. In addition to any other remedies provided in this Part, an Animal Control Officer or a police officer may seize, impound and humanely confine any of the following animals in accordance with Pennsylvania [P.S.] Title 3, Agriculture, Chapter 8, Dog Law, [3 P.S. § 459-101 et seq.]:
(1) Any animal at large.
(2) Any public nuisance animal or other animal considered to be a danger to the public.
(3) Any animal that is in violation of any quarantine or confinement order of a City Official.
(4) Any unattended animal that is ill, injured or otherwise in need of care.
(5) Any animal that is charged with dangerous, vicious, or aggressive activity or displays aggressive behavior where an Animal Control Officer, Property Maintenance Inspector or Police Officer determines that there is a threat to public health and safety. [Amended 6-23-2014 by Ord. No. 48-2014]
(6) Any animal that a court of competent jurisdiction has ordered impounded or destroyed.
(7) Any animal that is considered unattended or abandoned, as in situations where the owner is deceased, has been arrested or evicted from his regular place of residence.
(8) Any exotic animal, domestic agricultural animal, or native wildlife animal without a valid permit.
B. An Animal Control Officer, Property Maintenance Inspector or Police Officer may, in lieu of impoundment, issue to the owner a Notice of Violation and/or citation. [Amended 6-23-2014 by Ord. No. 48-2014]
A. Upon impoundment of an animal, the designated Animal Control Agency or Property Maintenance Division shall immediately attempt to notify the owner by first class mail. The owner shall also be advised that the failure to claim the animal within a specified period of time may result in the disposition of the animal.
B. An owner reclaiming an impounded animal shall pay a fee for each day the animal has been impounded, in an amount set by the Animal Control Agency and provided in Chapter 212, Fees.[Amended 8-26-2013 by Ord. No. 35-2013]
C. Any animal not reclaimed by its owner within 48 hours shall become the property of the City Animal Control Agency and shall be placed for adoption in a suitable home or, when necessary, euthanized in a manner prescribed by the designated animal control authority. [Amended 6-23-2014 by Ord. No. 48-2014]
D. Any dangerous, vicious or aggressive dog/animal impounded shall not be redeemed by the owner or adopted by any other person until all applicable permit fees imposed by this Part shall be paid and proof thereof shall be presented to the designated animal control authority. [Amended 6-23-2014 by Ord. No. 48-2014]
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