Below are the dog regulations from Lancaster Township Ordinance No. 02 of 1992.

IT IS UNLAWFUL TO ALLOW DOGS TO RUN AT LARGE. No owner will permit any dog to be upon any public property or the property of another person unless the dog is accompanied by or under the immediate control of the owner.

RESTRAIN ANIMALS FROM DEFECATING ON PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PROPERTY. No owner will permit any dog or other animal to defecate upon any public property or the property of another person unless the owner immediately removes the defecation and disposes of it in a sanitary manner. This doesn’t apply to guide dogs accompanying a blind person or otherwise assisting a person with a disability.

DUTY TO KEEP DOG SECURELY TIED OR PENNED. The owner of every dog will keep the dog penned in a dwelling or other enclosure, or securely tied in such a manner that the dog cannot walk or run on any public property or the property of another person.

DUTY TO KEEP DOG UNDER CONTROL. Every owner of a dog will keep the dog under sufficient control so as to prevent the dog from entering upon the public property or the property of another person without that person’s consent.

PENALTIES. Any person convicted by any District Justice of violating the provisions of this ordinance will pay a fine according to the following schedule, plus the cost of prosecution:

First Offense: $25.00
Second Offense: $50.00
Third Offense: $100.00
Fourth & Each Successive Offense: Up to $600.00

In default of payments, the violator will be imprisoned in Lancaster County Prison for a period of not more than 10 days.

STRAY DOGS. The Organization for Responsible Care of Animals, Inc. (ORCA) is responsible for picking up any stray dogs in Lancaster Township and transporting them to the Humane League of Lancaster County, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, subject to the following conditions.

1. The stray dog must be confined or under someone’s control before ORCA will pick up. The exception to this would be a vicious dog that is a threat to you or other animals.

2. An ORCA emergency would take precedence over a stray pickup.

ORCA ANIMAL ALERT HOTLINE: 397-8922
Humane League of Lancaster County: 393-6551
Rabies Information: 1-800-228-0791
Pet Emergency Treatment: 295-7387
State Dog Warden: 1-717-653-4601
To trace a dog license call County Treasurer’s office: 299-8222, or Central Control: 299-4321

For more information concerning dog regulations or for a copy of the complete ordinance, please contact the Lancaster Township office at (717) 291-1213.