For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms shall mean unless the context indicates otherwise:
(a) “Abandon.” To forsake entirely or to neglect or refuse to provide or perform the legal obligations for the care and support of an animal by the owner or his/her agent.
(b) “Abandonment.” The relinquishment of all rights and claims to an animal by its owner.
(d) “Animal Control Officer.” Person or persons employed by SVAS or a member municipality as its enforcement officer. Said officer shall also be qualified and empowered in accordance with Pennsylvania law, to enforce the dog law, and other laws within the jurisdiction of said officer.
(c) “Animal shelter.” Facilities from which SVAS operates to enforce this chapter.
(d) “At large.” Any dog is at large when it is off the property of its owner and not under the immediate control of a competent person.
(e) “Bite.” Any abrasion, scratch, puncture, tear or piercing of the skin actually or suspected of being caused by a dog.
(f) “Collar.” A band, chain, harness or other suitable device worn around the neck of a dog to which a current rabies vaccination, registration tag and a license tag can be affixed.
(g) “Dog law.” Act of December 7, 1982, as amended, 3 P.S. §459-101 et seq.
(h) “Kennel.” Any establishment wherein dogs are kept for the purposes of breeding, boarding, sale or show purposes from which the dog cannot stray.
(i) “Manager.” The chief administrative officer of the SVAS.
(j) “Member municipality.” A municipality which has entered into the Intermunicipal Agreement of February 16, 2018, by which the municipalities created SVAS, for the time that each said municipality remains a member in SVAS, and any other municipality that shall later adopt the terms of the Intermunicipal Agreement and be admitted as a member of SVAS.
(k) “Officer.” Any person employed or elected by the Commonwealth, a political subdivision, or SVAS whose duty is to preserve peace, make arrests, or enforce the dog law and/or this chapter.
(l) “Owner.” Any person who has a right of property in such dog; who owns, harbors, keeps or causes or permits to be harbored, has kept or has in his care a dog on or about any premises occupied by said person.
(m) “Person.” Any individual, corporation, partnership, association or State and local officers or employees.
(n) “Restraint.” A dog is under restraint if it is controlled by a leash, at “heel” beside a competent person and obedient to that person's commands, on or within a vehicle being driven or parked on the streets or within the property limits of the owner or keeper.
(o) “Shenango Valley.” The City of Farrell, the City of Hermitage, the City of Sharon, the Borough of Sharpsville, the Borough of Wheatland, the Borough of West Middlesex, the Township of Shenango, and such other municipalities as may hereafter become a member municipality of SVAS.
(p) “SVAS.” Shenango Valley Animal Shelter, Inc., the nonprofit corporation created by the member municipalities via an intermunicipal agreement and incorporated as of February 16, 2018.
(q) “Vaccination.” Inoculation of a dog with a vaccine that is licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture, and which is administered by a veterinarian for the purpose of immunizing the dog against rabies.
(r) “Veterinarian.” A doctor of veterinary medicine who holds a valid license to practice his profession.
(Ord. 13-20. Passed 12-16-2020)