[Adopted 12-14-1971 as Ch. IX of the Revised
General Ordinances, 1971]
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any dog, bitch or spayed bitch.
Any dog which has attained the age of seven months or which
possesses a set of permanent teeth.
Any person exercising control over a dog or permitting a
dog to remain on premises under his control.
Any establishment where the business of boarding, selling
or breeding dogs for sale is carried on, except a pet shop.
Includes every person having a right of property in the dog
and every person who has a dog in his keeping.
Any room or group of rooms, cage or exhibition pen, not part
of a kennel, where dogs are kept or displayed for sale.
Any dog which has been declared potentially dangerous by
a Municipal Judge pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-23.
[Added 3-12-2013 by Ord.
No. 13-02]
An establishment for the confinement of dogs seized either
under the provisions of this article or otherwise.
Any establishment where dogs are received, housed and distributed
without charge.
Any dog which has been declared vicious by a Municipal Judge
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-22.
[Amended 3-12-2013 by Ord. No. 13-02]
A.
Dogs of licensing age. Licenses shall be required
for the following dogs of licensing age:
(1)
Any dog owned or kept within the Town by a resident
of the Town on the first day of January of any calendar year.
(2)
Any dog acquired by any person during the course of
any calendar year and kept within the Town for more than 10 days after
acquisition.
(3)
Any dog attaining licensing age during the course
of the calendar year.
(4)
Any unlicensed dog brought into the Town by any person
and kept within the Town for more than 10 days.
(5)
Any dog licensed by another state brought into the
Town by any person and kept within the Town for more than 90 days.
B.
Application for license. Each application for a license
under this article shall give the following information:
C.
Registration numbers shall be issued in the order
in which applications are received.
D.
Application for license. Applications for licenses for dogs which are required to be licensed by the provisions of Subsection A(1) shall be made before the first day of February of each calendar year. In all other cases the application for a license shall be made within 10 days of the day upon which the dog in question first becomes subject to the provisions of this section.
E.
License record. The information on all applications
under this article and the registration number issued to each licensed
dog shall be preserved for a period of three years by the Town Clerk.
In addition, he shall forward similar information to the State Department
of Health each month on forms furnished by the Department.
F.
Fees. The person applying for a license shall pay a fee for each dog. He shall also pay for the registration tag for each dog. The same fees shall be charged for the annual renewal of each license and registration tag. Such fees shall be as provided in Chapter 73, Fees.
[Amended 3-26-1985 by Ord. No. 85-4]
G.
Expiration date. Each dog license and registration
tag shall expire on the last day of January of the calendar year following
the calendar year in which it was issued.
H.
Exceptions. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any dog licensed under § 64-3 of this article. Dogs used as guides for blind persons and commonly known as "Seeing Eye" dogs shall be licensed in the same manner as other dogs, except that the owner or keeper shall not be required to pay any fee.
A.
License required. Any person who keeps or operates
or proposes to establish a kennel, pet shop, shelter or pound shall
apply to the Town Clerk for a license entitling him to keep or operate
the establishment. Any person holding such license shall not be required
to secure individual licenses for dogs owned by the licensee and kept
at the establishment; licenses shall not be transferable to another
owner or different premises.
C.
Application information. The application shall contain
the following information:
(1)
The name and permanent and local address of the applicant.
(2)
The street address where the establishment is located
or proposed to be located, together with a general description of
the premises.
(3)
The purposes for which it is to be maintained.
(4)
The maximum number of dogs to be accommodated by the
establishment at any one time.
D.
Approval of Health Officer and Zoning Officer. No
license shall be issued until the proposed licensee submits a written
statement from the Health Officer of the Board of Health that the
establishment or proposed establishment complies with local and state
rules governing the location of and sanitation at the establishment.
Such license shall also be approved by the Zoning Officer.
E.
License term. All licenses issued for a kennel, pet
shop, shelter or pound shall state the purpose for which the establishment
is maintained and shall expire on January 31 of each year.
F.
License fees. The annual fees for kennel and pet shop licenses shall be as provided in Chapter 73, Fees.
[Amended 3-26-1985 by Ord. No. 85-4]
G.
Compliance with state regulations.
(1)
Any license issued for a kennel, pet shop, shelter
or pound shall be subject to revocation by the Council on recommendation
of the State Department of Health or the Board of Health for failure
to comply with the rules and regulations of the State Department of
Health or the Board of Health, after the owner has been afforded a
hearing by either the State Department of Health or the Board of Health.
(2)
Any person holding a license to establish, keep or
operate a kennel, pet shop, shelter or pound shall comply with all
Town ordinances and the rules and regulations promulgated by the State
Department of Health governing the sanitary conduct and operation
of kennels, pet shops, shelters and pounds, the preservation of sanitation
and the prevention of the spread of rabies and other diseases of dogs
within and from these establishments.
H.
Report to State Health Department. The Clerk shall
forward to the State Department of Health a list of all kennels, pet
shops, shelters and pounds licensed within 30 days after the licenses
are issued, which list shall include the name and address of the licensee
and the kind of license issued.
I.
Control of dogs off premises. No dog kept in a kennel,
pet shop, shelter or pound shall be permitted off the premises except
on leash or in a crate or other safe control.
A.
License fees and other moneys collected or received
under the provisions of this article, except registration tag fees,
shall be forwarded to the Chief Financial Officer within 30 days after
collection or receipt and shall be placed in a special account separate
from any of the other accounts of the Town and shall be used for the
following purposes only: collecting, keeping and disposing of dogs
liable to seizure under this article; local prevention and control
of rabies; providing antirabies treatment under the direction of the
local Board of Health for any person known or suspected to have been
exposed to rabies; all other purposes prescribed by the statutes of
New Jersey governing the subject, and for administering the provisions
of this article. Any unexpended balance remaining in the special account
shall be retained therein until the end of the third fiscal year following
and may be used for any of the purposes set forth in this section.
At the end of the third fiscal year following and at the end of each
fiscal year thereafter, there shall be transferred from the special
account to the general funds of the Town any amount then in the account
which is in excess of the total amount paid into the special account
during the last two fiscal years next preceding.
[Amended 12-27-1988 by Ord. No. 88-21]
B.
The registration tag fee for each dog shall be forwarded
within 30 days after collection by the Clerk to the State Department
of Health. Additional statutory fees shall be disposed of as required
by statute.
[Amended 3-26-1985 by Ord. No. 85-4]
[Amended 3-12-2013 by Ord. No. 13-02]
The Chief of Police of the Town or his or her
designee shall annually cause a canvass to be made of all dogs owned,
kept or harbored within the limits of the Town and shall report to
the Clerk, the Board of Health and the State Department of Health
the results thereof, setting forth in separate columns the names and
addresses of persons owning, keeping or harboring dogs and the number
of licensed dogs owned, kept or harbored by each person, together
with a complete description of each unlicensed dog.
[Amended 3-12-2013 by Ord. No. 13-02]
A.
Complaint; investigation. It shall be the duty of
the Police Department and the Animal Control Officer to receive and
investigate complaints against dogs.
B.
Impoundment and determination. The Animal Control
Officer shall seize and impound any dog as authorized by N.J.S.A.
4:19-19. Having seized and impounded a dog, the Animal Control Officer
shall follow the procedure set forth in N.J.S.A. 4:19-20 for determination
by the Municipal Judge of whether the dog is vicious or potentially
dangerous unless the matter is resolved by agreement between the owner
of the dog and the Town as authorized by N.J.S.A. 4:19-21.1.
C.
Control of potentially dangerous dogs. Any person
owning or charged with the care of a dog declared by the Municipal
Judge to be potentially dangerous shall comply with all orders of
the Municipal Court for housing and handling the dog.
[Amended 3-26-1985 by Ord. No. 85-4; 12-12-1989 by Ord. No. 89-12; 3-12-2013 by Ord. No. 13-02]
A.
Appointment. The Council shall appoint a certified
Animal Control Officer. If the Animal Control Officer is an employee,
his or her salary shall be as set forth in the Town’s salary
ordinance.
B.
Responsibilities. The Animal Control Officer shall
enforce and abide by the provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16 and the
provision of this article as to impounding or seizing of dogs, notice
of impoundment or seizure, and disposition of impounded or seized
dogs. The Council will designate the licensed shelter, pound, kennel,
or veterinarian’s office to be used by the Animal Control Officer
for the holding of impounded animals. The Animal Control Officer shall
follow Hunterdon County Board of Health animal bite confinement procedures.
C.
Emergency care. When the Animal Control Officer observes
an ill or injured animal off the premises of the owner outside of
normal working hours, the Animal Control Officer shall transport the
ill or injured animal to an emergency veterinary care facility.
D.
Animal abuse or cruelty. The Animal Control Officer
shall refer all suspected cases of animal abuse or cruelty to the
New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
E.
Access to premises. The Animal Control Officer is
hereby authorized to go on any premises to seize for impounding any
dog which the Animal Control Officer may lawfully seize and impound
when the officer is in immediate pursuit of the dog, except on the
premises of the owner of the dog if the owner is present and forbids
same.
F.
Records. The Animal Control Officer shall keep written records of
all calls responded to and shall keep records of all animals impounded
in accordance with the specifications of the New Jersey State Department
of Health.
No person shall own, keep or harbor a dog in
the Town except in compliance with the provisions of this article
and the following regulations:
A.
Wearing of registration. All dogs which are required
by the provisions of this article to be licensed shall wear a collar
or harness with the registration tag for the dog securely fastened
thereto.
B.
Use of registration tags. No person except an officer
in the performance of his duties shall remove a registration tag from
the collar of any dog without the consent of the owner, nor shall
any person attach a registration tag to a dog for which it was not
issued.
C.
Interference with official duties. No person shall
hinder, molest or interfere with anyone authorized or empowered to
perform any duty under this article.
D.
Disturbing the peace. No person shall own, keep, harbor
or maintain any dog which habitually barks or cries between the hours
of 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.
E.
Running at large. No person owning, keeping or harboring
any dog shall suffer or permit it to run at large upon the public
streets or in any public park, public building or other public place
within the Town.
F.
Leashing of dogs. No person owning, keeping or harboring
any dog shall suffer or permit it to be upon the public streets or
in any of the public places of the Town unless such dog is accompanied
by a person over the age of 12 years and is securely confined and
controlled by an adequate leash not more than eight feet long.
Where it has been determined by a physician
that a person has been bitten by a dog, the individual, or his parent
or guardian if he is a minor, shall immediately notify the police.
When the owner or keeper of any dog is notified by the police that
the dog has bitten any individual or individuals, the owner or keeper
of the dog shall comply with the following procedures:
A.
Have the dog examined by a licensed veterinarian within
12 hours.
B.
Have the dog kept in quarantine in the owner's home
or at a kennel for a period of 10 days.
C.
At the end of 10 days, have the dog reexamined by
a veterinarian and a written report of the dog's state of health sent
to the Board of Health.
The Council may by proclamation require all
dogs and cats to be quarantined during any period in each year which
may seem advisable to it.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 64-11, Enforcement, was
repealed 3-12-2013 by Ord. No. 13-02.
[Added 5-11-1993 by Ord. No. 93-7]
A.
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to protect
the health, safety and welfare of all those frequenting this municipality
by preventing the needless health hazards and nuisances causes by
dog feces upon public and private property located within the Town.
B.
Nuisances prohibited; curbing of dogs; responsibility
of owner.
(1)
No person, agency or institution owning, harboring,
keeping or in charge of any dog shall cause, suffer or allow such
dog to soil, defile, defecate or commit any nuisance upon any public
or private property whatsoever, except with the express authority
or permission of the owner of said property.
(2)
The restriction in this section shall not apply
to the portion of the street lying between the curblines, which may
be used to curb such dogs under the following conditions:
(a)
The person who so curbs such dog shall immediately
remove all feces deposited by such dog by any sanitary method (shovel,
container, disposal bag, etc.).
(b)
The feces removed from the aforementioned designated
area shall be disposed of by the person owning, harboring, keeping
or in charge of any dog curbed in accordance with the provisions of
this section, in a sanitary manner on said person's own property.
