Householder v. Beaver Falls Boro. , 83 Pa. Super. 351 ( 1924 )

Argued April 22, 1924. The Borough Code of May 14, 1915, P.L. 312, clause 30, chapter 5, article 1, section 2, gives the borough authorities power (after referring to dogs running at large) "to prohibit and regulate the running at large of other animals, and to authorize their seizure and sale for the benefit of the borough." This is similar to the provisions contained in the Borough Act of April 3, 1851, P.L. 320. The Borough of Beaver Falls enacted an ordinance which provided as follows: "Be it enacted by the Town Council of the Borough of Beaver Falls and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same: That after the passage and promulgation of this ordinance, it shall not be lawful for the owner or owners of any horse, mare, mule, swine, cow, sheep, goat or other animal of any kind, to permit the same to run at large within the limits of the Borough of Beaver Falls, under the penalty of three (3) dollars for the first offense and five (5) dollars for every subsequent offense. An it shall be the duty of the High Constable, Street Commissioner, or such other person or persons as the Town Council may appoint for that purpose, to seize and secure any such animal that may be found running at large within the limits of said borough. And that the sum of seventy-five cents be allowed such officer or person for any seizure so made, to be paid by the owner or owners thereof in addition to the fine imposed with all costs." On or about December 5, 1920, the police officers of defendant borough seized a mule running at large within the limits of the borough and took it to the plaintiff's livery barn and requested him to keep and secure it. Some time thereafter the plaintiff consulted the burgess of the borough concerning the keeping of the mule and was instructed by the burgess to keep it as an investigation was being made to ascertain who was the owner of the mule, for the purpose of prosecuting him. The plaintiff kept the mule for the period of 131 days and now demands the sum of $196.50 to recompense him. These facts are set forth in the plaintiff's statement, to which the borough filed a demurrer raising certain questions of law. The learned trial judge of the lower court decided that the borough was not liable.

Instead of exercising the power given in the act of assembly providing for the sale of an animal, found running at large, for the benefit of the borough, the ordinance merely provides for the seizure and securing of such animal that may be found running at large and makes the owner liable to a fine for allowing the animal to roam. There is no provision in it for the keeping of the animal and the disposal of it. The plaintiff argues that the word "secure" carried with it the idea of impounding the animal. More likely the meaning is that the animal which is running at large should be seized and should be fastened to prevent it from running at large any longer. It is to be secured in order that it may do no further harm. We look in vain for any right given to the borough officers to make a contract for the borough for the keep or board of the animal. We cannot supply the omission of the borough authorities to properly exercise the power conferred by the act of assembly by reading something into the ordinance which is not there. The evident situation that was in contemplation of the persons who passed the ordinance was that the borough would only find such animals running at large as had owners who could be found, for it does not provide against the contingency of an unclaimed or abandoned animal. There is no provision made for payment by the owner or the borough of the labor or expense incidental to the seizure of the animal, except it be the fixing of the fee to be paid by the owner or owners to the officer making the seizure. There is nothing said about the keep of the animal and a condition of affairs requiring the maintaining of the animal by the borough, as we have already stated, was not in legislative contemplation. The request of the municipal officers made of plaintiff to keep the animal did not bind the borough and impose no obligation on it, as there is no authority expressly or impliedly given to the officers to make any such engagement. The court was, therefore, right in sustaining the demurrer, as the statement does not set forth a valid cause of action.

The assignments of error are overruled and the judgment is affirmed.