Animal Control & Complaints

Does the PD loan animal traps and how do I obtain them?

The Derry Township Police department does not have animal traps for loan. Residents can contact the Humane Society of the Harrisburg Area at (717) 564-3320 for an affordable rental of humane traps for strays.

What are the laws concerning a barking dog?

From the Derry Township Ordinance 298 section 61-6 § 61-6. Animal noise disturbance. A. No domestic animal shall be allowed by its owner or its custodian to howl, bark, meow or make any other sound frequently or for a continued duration which creates a noise disturbance which deprives or causes unreasonable interference with the peace, quiet, rest or sleep of any person or persons not the owner or custodian of the animal causing the noise. B. Noise made by any domestic animal will be considered a public nuisance if the noise if continuous or incessant for a period of 15 minutes or such noise is intermittent for one hour or more; provided, that at the time the animal is making such noise no person is trespassing or threatening to trespass upon the private property in or upon which the animal is situated, nor is there any legitimate cause which justifiably provokes the animal. C. It shall be unlawful for any person to continue to own, harbor, possess or otherwise keep an offensively noisy domestic animal, which shall be defined as a domestic animal which has caused its owner or custodian to be cited and convicted of more than two violations of this § 61-6. Payment of fine and costs shall be deemed a conviction for purposes of this § 61-6.

Does Derry Township have a leash law?

Although there is no strict “leash” requirement the following Derry Township Ordinance and PA State Dog law apply. Derry Township Ord 298 61-3 and 61-4 61-3. Control of domestic animals required. All domestic animals shall be under the control of their owner or custodian at all times, by means of leash, harness, rope, tether, fence, cage, training or other means of restraint, so that the animal does not run at large, move at will, or is otherwise unconstrained from entering on property other than that of its owner or custodian without permission of the other property owner. 61-4. Domestic animals on public property. No domestic animal shall be allowed to enter onto public property either at its will or under the control of its owner or custodian when and/or where the public entity owning the property has prohibited domestic animals from being on the property by regulation or by posting notice on the property. Further, it shall be the responsibility of the owner or the custodian of any domestic animal to be aware of and obey posted regulations, requirements and/or conditions established for allowing domestic animals to be on any particular public property. 61-5. Removal of animal waste. The owner or custodian of any domestic animal shall remove immediately any feces or vomit deposited by his/her domestic animal on any public street or street right-of-way, including the sidewalk and any other part of the street right-of-way, such as the grass boulevard between the street and the private property line; on any public parkland or public use area; or on any property of which such person is not the owner or tenant. The feces or vomit deposited by a domestic animal on any property other than that of the owner or custodian of the domestic animal shall be collected by the owner or custodian in a sanitary fashion and returned to his/her property for sanitary disposal. PA State Dog Law 459-305 Confinement and housing of dogs not part of a kennel (a) Confinement and control. It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any dog to fail to keep at all times such dog either: (1) confined within the premises of the owner; (2) firmly secured by means of a collar and chain or other devise so that it cannot stray beyond the premises on which it is secured; or, (3) under the reasonable control of some person, or when engaged in lawful hunting, exhibition or field training. (b) Housing. It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of a dog to house the dog for any period of time in a drum, barrel, refrigerator or freezer regardless of the material of which the drum, barrel, refrigerator or freezer is constructed.

I’ve caught a dog on my property, now what?

Derry Township residents that have caught a dog on their property may contact the Derry Township Police Department at (717) 534-2202 to have the pet removed. Anyone that has found a stray dog within Derry Township may report with the dog to the Derry Township Police department for an animal voucher, so the dog can be surrendered to the Humane Society of Harrisburg.

I’ve caught a cat on my property, now what?

Derry Township residents that have caught a cat on their property or know of stray or feral cats roaming in their area, may contact the Derry Township TNR Program at (717) 592-8087. This program is a volunteer full service program.