[Adopted 7-13-1965 (Ch. 72, Art. I, of the 1981 Code)]
The terms "dogs," "dog of licensing age," "pet shop," "kennel," "pound" and "owner" are hereby assigned the definitions of such words as per N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.1 (Laws of 1941, Chapter 151).
Any person who shall own, keep or harbor a dog of licensing age in the Township of Allamuchy shall, in the month of January of each year, procure from the Township Clerk or licensing official a metal registration tag for each such dog so owned, kept or harbored and shall place upon such dog a collar or harness with the registration tag securely fastened thereto.
[Amended 10-5-1978; 5-7-1981; 10-6-1983; 12-17-1991 by Ord. No. 14-91; 5-21-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-05; 8-19-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-12; 11-29-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-15]
Any person applying for a dog license, registration and registration tag shall pay the Township animal licensing official the sum of $10 for each license and registration tag for spayed/neutered dogs, plus any additional late fees if applicable; if a dog is unspayed/unneutered, the license and registration fee shall be $15, plus any additional late fees if applicable. Each license and tag shall be renewed annually and, for each annual renewal, the person applying shall pay the same fee for the license and registration tag as hereinabove provided. The licensing year shall run from January 1 of each year and continue to December 31 of the current year. For any application made after January 31, an additional $5 per month, per dog, shall be added to the application fee. Proof of rabies inoculation showing that the inoculation will not expire during the current licensing year, as well as proof of spayed/neutering, must be presented when applying for a license.
[Amended 9-3-1981]
No license to own, keep or harbor a dog shall be issued to or in the name of any person under the age of 18 years.
[Amended 5-21-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-05]
Dogs used as guides for blind persons, commonly known as "Seeing Eye" dogs, and dogs used to assist handicapped persons and commonly known as "service dogs," shall be licensed and registered as other dogs as hereinbefore provided, except that no fee shall be charged therefor.
The application form furnished by the Township Clerk shall be signed by the owner or keeper of the dog and shall state the breed, age, sex, color and markings of the dog for which license and registration is sought, whether it is long-haired or short-haired in variety, and the name, street, post office address and telephone number, if any, of the person who shall keep or harbor such dog. Any dog owned by a New Jersey resident and duly licensed by a New Jersey municipality for the current licensing year and bearing a proper registration tag for a New Jersey municipality for such current year shall be exempt from the licensing and tag provisions of this section for the then-current licensing and tagging year. Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Township of Allamuchy any dog licensed in a state other than New Jersey for the current licensing year and who shall keep the same in said Township more than 90 days shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag for such dog.
Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Township any unlicensed dog of licensing age and who shall keep same in the Township for a period of 10 days shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag for such dog.
The owner or keeper of any newly acquired dog of licensing age or of any dog attaining licensing age shall apply for such license and registration tag within 10 days after such acquisition of age attainment.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 72-9, Running at large prohibited, which immediately followed this section, is repealed. See now § 85-14A of this article for provisions regarding animals running at large.
No dog shall be permitted off the premises of a person owning, keeping or harboring same unless accompanied by a person capable of controlling it and having the dog securely confined and controlled by an adequate leash or chain not more than six feet in length.
No person owning, keeping or harboring a dog shall permit or suffer it to do any injury or to do any damage to any lawns, plants, shrubbery, flowers, grounds or property of persons other than the owner or person having care, custody and control of said dog.
No person owning, keeping or harboring a dog shall at any time permit or suffer such dog to indulge in loud, disturbing, continuous or repetitious barking, crying or whining, so as to disturb the health, comfort, sleep or peace of human beings at any time, or to unduly annoy the neighborhood and constitute a nuisance thereto.
[Added 2-3-1992 by Ord. No. 2-92; amended 5-21-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-05; 7-27-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-11]
A. 
Animal Control Officer.
(1) 
Position created. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16b, the position of Animal Control Officer is hereby created, and employment of a qualified person for that position is hereby authorized.
(2) 
Qualifications. To be appointed to the position of Animal Control Officer, a person must be 18 years of age or older and hold a proper certification issued by the Commissioner of Health of the State of New Jersey pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16a.
(3) 
Appointment. The Animal Control Officer shall be appointed by the Mayor of the Township of Allamuchy and confirmed by a vote of a majority of the Township Council.
(4) 
Term of office. The term of office of Animal Control Officer shall be at the pleasure of the Mayor and Township Council.
(5) 
Compensation. The compensation of the Animal Control Officer of the Township of Allamuchy shall from time to time be fixed by the Mayor and Council by ordinance, or if a salary guide is adopted by ordinance, then by resolution regularly adopted.
(6) 
Duties. The Animal Control Officer of the Township of Allamuchy shall be responsible for animal control within the jurisdiction of the Township and shall perform any and all duties authorized by law, including, but not limited to, the animal control duties mandated by N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16 and the provisions of this chapter.
(7) 
Report to the Mayor and Council. The Animal Control Officer shall make a report to the Mayor and Council of the Township of Allamuchy of all activities conducted by said Officer in the course of the performance of such duties exercised by said person. A copy of the report filed with the Mayor and Council shall be forwarded to the Township Clerk. In the event that the Animal Control Officer requires direction or guidance in the performance of his duties not otherwise mandated by law, the Animal Control Officer shall seek such guidance and direction from the Mayor and Council of the Township of Allamuchy. Should circumstances make it infeasible for him to do so, the Animal Control Officer shall seek such guidance and direction from either the Health Officer or the Mayor of the Township of Allamuchy. Nothing contained in this section shall otherwise require the Animal Control Officer to perform any act contrary to law or the rules or regulations promulgated by the Commissioner of Health of the State of New Jersey in connection with the certification of the Animal Control Officer.
B. 
Animal Cruelty Investigator.
(1) 
Position created. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16b, the position of Animal Cruelty Investigator is hereby created, and employment of a qualified person for that position is hereby authorized.
(2) 
Qualifications. To be appointed to the position of Animal Cruelty Investigator, a person must be 18 years of age or older and hold a certified Animal Control Officer certificate from the State of New Jersey and shall have and maintain the New Jersey State Animal Cruelty Investigator's Certification pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16a.
(3) 
Appointment. The Animal Cruelty Investigator shall be appointed by the Mayor of the Township of Allamuchy and confirmed by a vote of a majority of the Township Council.
(4) 
Term of office. The term of office of Animal Cruelty Investigator shall be at the pleasure of the Mayor and Township Council.
(5) 
Compensation. The compensation of the Animal Cruelty Investigator of the Township of Allamuchy shall from time to time be fixed by the Mayor and Council by ordinance, or if a salary guide is adopted by ordinance, then by resolution regularly adopted.
(6) 
Duties. The Animal Cruelty Investigator of the Township of Allamuchy shall perform any and all duties authorized by law including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) 
Enforce all laws and ordinances enacted for the protection of animals, including, but not limited to, animal control, animal welfare and animal cruelty laws of the state and ordinances of the Township of Allamuchy.
(b) 
Investigate and sign complaints concerning any violation of an animal control, animal welfare or animal cruelty law of the state or ordinance of the Township of Allamuchy.
(c) 
Act as an officer for the detection, apprehension and arrest of offenders against the animal control, animal welfare and animal cruelty laws of the state and ordinances of the Township of Allamuchy.
(d) 
Work in consultation and cooperation with the New Jersey State Police, Animal Control Officer, Deputy Animal Control Officers and Animal Cruelty Investigators and Township Administrator, when applicable, and when necessary, cooperatively determining whether probable cause exists for the application and issuance of a search or arrest warrant and implementing same.
(7) 
Report to the Mayor and Council. The Animal Cruelty Investigator shall make a report to the Mayor and Council of the Township of Allamuchy of all activities conducted by said Officer in the course of the performance of such duties exercised by said person. A copy of the report filed with the Mayor and Council shall be forwarded to the Township Clerk.
C. 
Deputy Animal Control Officer and Animal Cruelty Investigator.
(1) 
A Deputy Animal Control Officer and/or Deputy Animal Cruelty Investigator may be appointed by the Mayor of the Township of Allamuchy upon confirmation of a vote of a majority of the Township Council. Such deputy officer and/or investigator shall serve in the event of the absence or disability of the certified Animal Control Officer or Animal Cruelty Investigator. To be appointed to the position of Deputy Animal Control Officer and/or Deputy Animal Cruelty Investigator, a person must be 18 years of age or older and hold the requisite certifications required by this article.
(2) 
The Deputy Animal Control Officer and Deputy Animal Cruelty Investigator shall have all the powers and duties as conferred upon such officers and investigators as set forth in this article.
(3) 
Term of office. The term of office of Deputy Animal Control Officer and Deputy Animal Cruelty Investigator shall be at the pleasure of the Mayor and Township Council.
(4) 
Compensation. The compensation of the Deputy Animal Control Officer and Deputy Animal Cruelty Investigator of the Township of Allamuchy shall from time to time be fixed by the Mayor and Council by ordinance, or if a salary guide is adopted by ordinance, then by resolution regularly adopted.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 72-13, Authority to contract with enforcement official, was repealed 4-6-1989 by Ord. No. 3-89.
[Amended 4-6-1989 by Ord. No. 3-89; 6-1-1989 by Ord. No. 10-89; 2-3-1992 by Ord. No. 2-92]
A. 
The Certified Animal Control Officer of the Township of Allamuchy shall cause an annual canvass to be made of all dogs kept or harbored within the limited area of the Township of Allamuchy and shall cause a report of the results thereof to be filed with the New Jersey State Health Department.
B. 
Township Council and/or any individual acting as an agent of the Township of Allamuchy shall appoint the necessary person(s) to conduct the annual canvass on a door-to-door basis and shall, on or before August 20 of each year, submit a report of the results of the canvassing to the Certified Animal Control Officer and the Township Clerk. That report shall include, at a minimum, the total number of dogs owned, kept and/or harbored within the limited area of the Township of Allamuchy as well as the number of unlicensed dogs discovered, a complete description of those animals and the names and addresses of all persons owning, keeping or harboring any such unlicensed animals.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
C. 
In connection with any annual canvass of dogs, if it is determined that anyone shall have kept or harbored an unlicensed dog in violation of this article, there shall be imposed a discovery fee of $10 per unlicensed dog, which discovery fee shall be payable in addition to the ordinary and normal fees imposed by this article. Upon the discovery of such unlicensed dog, the canvasser shall report such event to the Animal Control Officer of the Township of Allamuchy, and the person or persons harboring such dog shall immediately and forthwith apply for a dog license pursuant to § 85-3 and pay the discovery fee and all proper licensing fees. Nothing contained in this subsection shall modify or exempt any person harboring an unlicensed dog from the violations and penalties set forth in § 85-16.
[Added 5-17-1993 by Ord. No. 2-93]
[Amended 4-6-1989 by Ord. No. 3-89[1]; 2-3-1992 by Ord. No. 2-92]
A. 
Running at large prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person harboring, owning or possessing any dog to permit the same to run at large. For the purpose of this section, "running at large" shall be defined to be the presence of a dog at any place except upon the premises of the owner. A dog shall not be considered to be running at large if it is on a leash and under the control of a person physically able to control it.
[Amended 5-23-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-11]
B. 
Impounding animals at large. Any animal running at large in the Township of Allamuchy found off the premises of the owner or person keeping or harboring the dog, which such official or his agent or agents shall have reason to believe is a stray dog; off the premises of the owner or person keeping or harboring the dog, which dog is not controlled by a leash or chain as provided in this article; with fierce, dangerous or vicious propensities or noticeably affected with rabies or which has been bitten by a dog suspected of having rabies; off the premises of its owner or person keeping or harboring such dog without a current registration tag on the dog's collar about the dog's neck; female dog in season off the premises of the owner or of the person keeping or harboring such female dog; or which, because of loud, disturbing, continuous or repetitious barking, crying or whining, disturbs the health, comfort, sleep or peace of human beings at any time or unduly annoys the neighborhood and constitutes a nuisance thereto in violation of the provisions of § 85-11 of this article shall be apprehended and impounded by the Certified Animal Control Officer of the Township of Allamuchy at the expense of the owner or in accordance with the fees established in Subsection D, entitled "Procedures after impounding."
C. 
Entry upon premises for seizure. Any person or agent authorized or empowered to perform any duty under this article is hereby authorized to go upon any premises to seize for impounding any dog(s) or any other animal(s) which he may lawfully seize and impound when he is in immediate pursuit of such dog(s) or other animal, except upon the premises of the owner of such dog or other animal if said owner is present and forbids such entry.
D. 
Procedures after impounding. After the impounding of any animal, the Animal Control Officer shall proceed in accordance with the procedures outlined in N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16 concerning the impounding or taking of dogs or animals into custody. In addition to any and all fees or costs as authorized and provided for by the provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16, the Animal Control Officer shall be authorized to charge the sum as provided in this Code as an initial fee for the impounding of any said animal per day during which said animal was boarded by the Township of Allamuchy. The boarding fee shall be automatically increased to the maximum permissible level as established by appropriate statute. The owner of any animal euthanized by the Township of Allamuchy shall be responsible for all costs associated with euthanasia and disposal.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed original § 72-15, Enforcement, impounding of dogs.
Any dog seized under this article shall be handled and disposed of with proper notice given as required by N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16.
[Amended 10-5-1978; 9-3-1981[1]]
Except as provided in N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.19, any person who violates any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be liable to the general penalty in Chapter 1, Article II, General Penalty, of the Township Code.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
The provisions of this article shall be in addition to the provisions and penalties of any and all statutes of the State of New Jersey relating to rabies and the control of dogs and shall not be constructed as intended to supersede or preempt any provisions set out in any such regulatory statutes of the State of New Jersey.