Hartsdel Neighborhood Watch Association
Del City Ordinances
Pit Bull Dogs


ARTICLE IV. DOGS

Sec. 4-47. Keeping pit bull dogs prohibited.

(a) It shall be unlawful to keep, harbor, own or in any way possess within the corporate limits of the city any pit bull dog, provided, that pit bull dogs registered with the city within ten (10) days of June 3, 1991 may be kept within the city subject to the provisions of this section.

(1)  Pit bull dog defined.

a. The bull terrier breed of dog.

b. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed of dog.

c. The American Pit Bull Terrier breed of dog.

d. The American Staffordshire Terrier breed of dog.


(2) Keeping registered pit bull dogs. The prohibition of subsection (a), section 4-47, shall not apply to pit bull dogs registered with the city within ten (10) days of June 3, 1991. The keeping of such dog shall be subject to the following standards:

a. Leash and muzzle. No person shall permit a registered pit bull dog to go outside its kennel or pen unless such dog is securely leashed with a leash no longer than four (4) feet in length. No person shall permit a pit bull dog to be kept on a chain, rope or other type leash outside its kennel or pen, unless a person is in physical control of the leash. Such dogs may not be leashed to inanimate objects such as trees, posts, buildings, etc. In addition, all pit bull dogs on a leash outside the animal's kennel must be muzzled by a muzzling device sufficient to prevent such dog from biting persons or other animals.

b. Confinement, generally. All registered pit bull dogs shall be securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or kennel, except when leashed and muzzled as above provided. Such pen, kennel or structure must have secure sides and a secure top attached to the sides. All structures used to confine registered pit bull dogs must be locked with a key or combination lock when such animals are within the structure. Such structure must have a secure bottom of floor attached to the side of the pen or the sides of the must be imbedded in the ground no less than two (2) feet. All structures erected to house pit bull dogs must comply with all zoning and building regulations of the city. All such structure must be adequately lighted and ventilated and kept in a clean and sanitary condition.

c. Confinement indoors. No pit bull dogs may be kept on a porch, patio or in any part of a house or structure that would allow the dog to exit the building on its own volition. In addition, no such animal may be kept in a house or structure when the windows are open, or when screen windows or screen doors are the only obstacle preventing the dog from exiting the structure.

d. Signs. All owners, keepers or harborers of registered pit bull dogs within the city shall, within ten (10) days of June 3, 1991, display in a prominent place on their premises a sign easily readable by the public using the words "beware of dog." In addition a similar sign is required to be posted on the kennel or pen of such animal.

e. Insurance. All owners, keepers or harborers of registered pit bull dogs must, within ten (10) days of June 3, 1991, provide proof to the city animal welfare manager of public liability insurance in a single incident amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) for bodily injury to or death of any person or persons or for damage to property owned by any persons which may result from the ownership, keeping or maintenance of such animal. Such insurance policy shall provide that no cancellation of the policy will be made unless ten (10) days written notice is first given to the city animal welfare manager.

f. Identification photographs. All owners, keepers or harborers of registered pit bull dogs must, within ten (10) days of June 3, 1991, provide to the animal welfare manager two (2) color photographs of the registered animal clearly showing the color and approximate size of the animal.

g. Reporting requirements. All owners, keepers or harborers of registered pit bull dogs must, within ten (10) days of the incident, report the following information in writing to the city animal welfare manager as required hereinafter:

1. The removal from the city or death of a registered pit bull dog.

2. The birth of offspring of a registered pit bull dog.

3. The new address of a registered pit bull dog owner should the owner move within the corporate city limits.

h. Sale or transfer of ownership prohibited. No person shall sell, barter or in any other way dispose of a pit bull dog registered with the city to a person within the city unless the recipient person resides permanently in the same household and on the same premises as the registered owner of such dog; provided that the registered owner of a pit bull dog may sell or otherwise dispose of a registered dog or the offspring of such dog to persons who do not reside within the city.

i. Animals born of registered dogs. All offspring born of pit bull dogs registered with the city must be removed from the city within six (6) weeks of the birth of such animal.

j. Registration. All pit bull dogs shall be registered by the owner with the animal welfare department of the city within ten (10) days of June 3, 1991. No pit bull dog shall be registered by the animal welfare department if the requirements of subsections (a)(2)e and (a)(2)f of this section are not complied with at the time of application. In addition to that fees required by section 4-42 of this article, the additional fee of ten dollars ($10.00) shall be charged for each pit bull dog so registered.

k. Irrefutable presumptions. There shall be an irrefutable presumption that any dog registered with the city as a pit bull dog or any of those breeds prohibited by this section is in fact a dog subject to the requirements of this section.

l. Failure to comply. It shall be unlawful for the owner, keeper or harborer of a pit bull dog registered with the city to fail to comply with the requirements and conditions set forth in this section. Any dog found to be the subject of a violation of this section shall be subject to immediate seizure and impoundment. In addition, failure to comply will result in the revocation of the license of such animal resulting in the immediate removal of the animal from the city.


(b) Any person violating or permitting the violation of any provision of this section shall upon conviction in municipal court be fined a sum not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). In addition to the fine imposed, the court may sentence the defendant to imprisonment in the municipal jail for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days. In the event the violation shall involve a registered pit bull dog, the court shall order the registration of the subject pit bull dog revoked and the animal removed from the city. Should the defendant owner refuse to remove the animal from the city, the municipal court judge shall find the defendant owner in contempt and order the immediate confiscation and impoundment of the animal. If the owner shall continue to refuse to remove the animal from the city, the municipal court judge shall issue any other orders necessary to carry out the intent of this section. Each day that a violation of this section continues shall be deemed a separate offense. In addition to the foregoing penalties any person who violates this section shall pay all expenses including shelter, food, handling, veterinary care and testimony necessitated by the enforcement of this article.

(Ord. No. 939, § 1, 6-3-91; Ord. No. 1142, § 1, 11-15-99)

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