Police Tips on Responsible Pet Ownership

The Department of Community Relations at the 14th District of Philadelphia Police is asking residents to be mindful of their neighbors and of laws regarding pets and other animals in the district. The department put out the following tips for pet owners:

• Vaccinate your pets. All dogs and cats must be vaccinated for rabies, which can be done at any veterinarian or the Philadelphia branch of the SPCA.
• License your dog. All dogs over four months old must be licensed by the City of Philadelphia. You can purchase a license at the Philadelphia SPCA.
• Leash your dog. The law requires dogs to be kept on a leash no longer than six feet. Unleashed dogs may be seized by animal control or police, according to police.
• Clean up after your dog. Dog owners must clean up after their dogs while out on a walk immediately. If your dog goes to the bathroom in your yard, it must be cleaned within 12 hours to prevent unsanitary conditions and attracting insects and vermin.
• Keep dogs from barking. The law states that dogs should not be allowed to bark more than five times in five minutes to prevent being a nuisance to neighbors. For more on barking dogs (yours or your neighbors):
• Feeding pigeons is prohibited. The City of Philadelphia prohibits the feeding of pigeons except in the instance of a bird feeder on your own property.
• Farm animals are not allowed as pets. Chickens, roosters, ducks, goats, sheep and all other farm animals are not permitted as pets. Horses are fine, however, under proper care.