[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Health
of the Township of Stafford 8-19-1991 by Ord. No. 91-1. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Amended 3-4-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-31]
As used in this chapter, unless a different
meaning clearly appears from the context, the following words shall
have the following meanings:
For the purpose of this chapter, "animal" shall mean cat.
Any member of the domestic feline species, male, female or
altered.
Any cat which has attained the age of six months.
The Township of Stafford or any designated representative
thereof charged by the Township with administering the issuance and/or
revocation of permits and licenses under the provisions of this chapter.
Rendered permanently incapable of reproduction as certified
by a licensed veterinarian.
When applied to the proprietorship of a cat, includes every
person having a right of property (or custody) in such cat and every
person who has such cat in his or her keeping or who harbors or maintains
a cat or knowingly permits a cat to remain on or about any premises
occupied by that person. Anyone feeding stray cats for a time period
of three days will be the owner and subject to all regulations.
Any individual, corporation, partnership, organization or
institution commonly recognized by law as a unit.
[Amended 3-4-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-31]
Each and every cat in the Township of Stafford
shall be duly licensed and shall bear evidence of such license at
all times by wearing a collar or other device such that a metal disc
may be attached thereto, which disc shall bear the name of Stafford
Township, the year and license number and which disc shall be affixed
to the animal at all times.
A.Â
Beginning 30 days after second reading of this chapter,
the sum to be paid annually for a cat license and for each renewal
thereof in Stafford Township shall be the sum of $12 per animal for
animals that have not been spayed or neutered and $7 per animal for
animals that have been spayed or neutered.
[Amended 9-20-1999 by Ord. No. 99-2]
B.Â
Persons who fail to obtain a license as required within
45 days of the enactment of this chapter will be subject to a delinquent
fee of $5 per month and shall be a violator of this chapter.
A.Â
Every owner of a cat and over six months of age shall
have his cat inoculated with rabies vaccine of a type approved by
and administered in accordance with the recommendations of the United
States Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of
Health, Education and Welfare or the New Jersey Department of Health.
Such vaccination shall be repeated annually or at such intervals as
provided by regulations of the State Department of Health and shall
be administered by a duly licensed veterinarian or by such other veterinarian
permitted by law to do the same.
B.Â
Any cat may be exempted from the requirement of such
vaccination for a specified period of time by the Township or its
agent upon the presentation of a certificate from a duly licensed
veterinarian stating that, by reason of age, infirmity or other physical
condition, the vaccination of such cat for such specified period of
time is contraindicated.
[Amended 3-4-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-31]
C.Â
It is further provided that nothing herein contained
shall be deemed to require the vaccination of any cats located in
and confined to duly recognized and licensed boarding facilities,
pet shops, shelters or veterinary hospitals.
[Amended 3-4-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-31]
The owner of any cat vaccinated against rabies
shall obtain from the veterinarian who vaccinates said cat a certificate
in form identical to those used for dogs or a standard immunization
certificate in use by the licensed veterinarian of this or any other
state or country and shall, within 10 days after bringing the cat
into the Township of Stafford, deliver said certificate to the Township
or its agent and obtain a license as set forth herein.
[Amended 3-4-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-31]
Whenever the Township has reason to believe
or has been notified by the State Department of Health that there
is a danger that rabies may spread within the Township, the Township
or any officer, inspector or agent thereof may serve a notice, in
writing, upon all persons within the Township owning or having charge
of any cat or other animal, so far as the same may be known, requiring
such person to confine such cat or other animal. In lieu of serving
such written notice, the Township may cause a notice to be published
in the official newspaper of the Township. Any person owning or in
charge of a cat or other animal which is subject to such notice and
who does not comply with the orders and instructions of such notice
shall be considered a violator.
Any person, whether an owner or custodian of
a cat, who is convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of
this chapter shall be, upon conviction of any of the provisions hereof,
subject to a fine or penalty of at least a minimum fine of $35 but
not to exceed $500 or imprisonment in the common jail of the County
of Ocean for a term not exceeding 30 days, or both, at the discretion
of the Magistrate before whom such conviction is had.
[Added 5-18-1992 by Ord. No. 92-1; amended 3-4-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-31]
The Animal Control Officer shall annually cause a canvass to be made of all cats owned, kept or harbored as defined under § 217-1 within the Township of Stafford and shall report, on or before September 1 of each year, to Stafford Township the result thereof, setting forth in separate columns the names and addresses of persons owning, keeping or harboring, as defined under § 217-1, unlicensed cats and the number of unlicensed cats owned, kept or harbored by each of said persons, together with a complete description of each of said unlicensed cats.
[Added 5-18-1992 by Ord. No. 92-1]
The Animal Control Officer, and/or his agents,
shall be responsible for enforcing this chapter and shall issue a
summons or complaint to all persons in violation of any of the provisions
of this chapter.
