[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Health of the Borough of Carteret 6-9-1978 as Art. III of the 1978 Revised Ordinances. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Dogs (Borough Council) — See Ch. 118.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DOG
Any dog, bitch or spayed bitch.
DOG OF LICENSING AGE
Any dog which has attained the age of seven (7) months or which possesses a set of permanent teeth.
KEEPER
Any person exercising control over a dog or permitting a dog to remain on premises under his control.
KENNEL
Any establishment wherein or whereon the business of boarding or selling dogs or breeding dogs for sale is carried on, except a pet shop.
OWNER
When applied to the proprietorship of a dog, includes every person having a right of property in such dog and every person who has such dog in his keeping.
PET SHOP
Any room or group of rooms, cage or exhibition pen, not part of a kennel, wherein dogs for sale are kept or displayed.
POUND
An establishment for the confinement of dogs seized either under the provisions of this chapter or otherwise.
RUN AT LARGE
Any dog off the premises of the owner, with or without a leash or muzzle, and not under the direct control of the owner capable of handling the animal.
SECURE ENCLOSURE
An enclosure or pen out of which the dog cannot escape.
SECURE LEASH
A leash or chain which the dog cannot break or sever and which is not over six (6) feet in length.
SHELTER
Any establishment where dogs are received, housed and distributed without charge.
VICIOUS DOG
Any dog which has been declared by a Municipal Judge to be a "vicious dog" which has attacked or bitten any human being or which habitually attacks other dogs or domestic animals.
A. 
When required.
(1) 
Licenses shall be required for the following dogs of licensing age:
(a) 
Any dog owned or kept within the borough by a resident of the borough on the first day of January of any calendar year.
(b) 
Any dog acquired by any person during the course of any calendar year and kept within the borough for more than ten (10) days after acquisition.
(c) 
Any dog attaining licensing age during the course of the calendar year.
(d) 
Any unlicensed dog brought into the borough by any person and kept within the borough for more than ten (10) days.
(e) 
Any dog licensed by another state brought into the borough by any person and kept within the borough for more than ninety (90) days.
(2) 
No license to own, keep or harbor a dog in the borough shall be issued to or in the name of a minor.
B. 
Application for license.
(1) 
Each application for a license under this chapter shall give the following information:
(a) 
A general description of the dog sought to be licensed, including breed, sex, age, color and markings and whether such dog is of a long-haired or short-haired variety.
(b) 
The name, street and post office address of the owner of and the person who shall keep or harbor such dog.
(2) 
Registration numbers shall be issued in the order in which applications are received.
C. 
When application for license made. Applications for licenses for dogs which are required to be licensed by the provisions of Subsection A, 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 ten (10) days of the day upon which the dog in question first becomes subject to the provisions of this section.
D. 
Failure to obtain license. Any owner of or person harboring a dog which is found to be unlicensed by the Dog Warden after March 1 shall be required to pay an additional delinquent fee plus the required license fee. The delinquent fee shall be one dollar ($1.), in addition to any other fines due to summonses issued that may be imposed on him as provided in this section for failure to obtain a dog license before February 1. The aforementioned fee shall not apply to dogs which have been acquired by the owner after March 1, for which the license fee shall be the same as required in Subsection F. The owner, however, must present sufficient proof to establish that the dog was acquired after March 1.
E. 
License record. The information on all applications under this section and the registration number issued to each licensed dog shall be preserved for a period of three (3) years by the Borough 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 of seven dollars ($7.) for each dog. He shall also pay one dollar ($1.) for the registration tag for each dog. The same fees shall be charged for the annual renewal of each license and registration tag. A fee of one dollar ($1.) shall be charged to replace a registration tag.
[Amended 3-2-1982]
G. 
Expiration date. Each dog license and registration tag shall expire on January 31 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 § 287-3 of this chapter. 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 a fee.
I. 
Notification of death, sale, etc., of dogs. A dog owner shall notify the Carteret Board of Health within seven (7) days from the date of such occurrence of the death, sale or disposal of any dog or dogs by any other means. Said notification can be either oral or written.
[Added 3-2-1982]
A. 
License required. Any person who keeps or operates or proposes to establish a kennel, pet shop, shelter or pound shall apply to the Borough Clerk for a license entitling him to keep or operate such establishment. Any person holding such license shall not be required to secure individual licenses for dogs owned by him and kept at such establishments. Such licenses shall not be transferable to another owner or different premises.
B. 
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 purpose for which it is to be maintained.
(4) 
The maximum number of dogs to be accommodated by such establishment at any one (1) time.
C. 
Approval of Health 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 and sanitation of such establishment.
D. 
License term. All licenses issued for a kennel, pet shop, shelter or pound shall state the purpose for which the establishment is maintained, and all such licenses shall expire on June 30 of each year.
E. 
License fees. The annual fees for kennel and pet shop licenses shall be as follows:
(1) 
Kennel accommodating ten (10) or fewer dogs: ten dollars ($10.).
(2) 
Kennel accommodating more than ten (10) dogs: twenty-five dollars ($25.).
(3) 
Pet shop: ten dollars ($10.).
(4) 
Shelter or pound: no fee.
F. 
Compliance with state regulations.
(1) 
All licenses 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 borough 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 therein and the prevention of the spread of rabies and other diseases of dogs within and from such establishments.
G. 
Reports 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 thirty (30) days after the licenses therefor are issued, which list shall include the name and address of each licensee and the kind of license issued.
H. 
Control of dogs off premises. No dog kept in a kennel, pet shop, shelter or pound shall be permitted off such premises, except on leash or in a crate or other safe conduct.
A. 
License fees and other moneys collected or received under the provisions of this chapter, except the registration tag fees, shall be forwarded to the Borough Treasurer within thirty (30) days after collection or receipt and shall be placed in a special account separate from any of the other accounts of the borough and shall be used for the following purposes only:
(1) 
Collecting, keeping and disposing of dogs liable to seizure under this chapter.
(2) 
Local prevention and control of rabies.
(3) 
Providing antirabies treatment under the direction of the Local Board of Health for any person known or suspected to have been exposed to rabies.
(4) 
All other purposes prescribed by the statutes of New Jersey governing the subject and for administering the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
Any unexpended balance remaining in such 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 such special account to the general funds of the borough any amount then in such account which is in excess of the total amount paid into the special account during the last two (2) fiscal years next preceding.
C. 
The registration tag fee of twenty-five cents ($0.25) for each dog shall be forwarded within thirty (30) days after collection by the Clerk to the State Department of Health.
The Chief of Police of the borough shall annually cause a canvass to be made of all dogs owned, kept or harbored within the limits of the borough 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, the number of licensed dogs owned, kept or harbored by each person, together with the registration number of each dog, and the number of unlicensed dogs owned, kept or harbored by each person, together with a complete description of each unlicensed dog.
A. 
Complaint; investigation; report. It shall be the duty of the Police Department and the Poundmaster to receive and investigate complaints against dogs. If they deem any dog complained of to be a vicious dog as defined in § 287-1, they shall report their findings, in writing, to the Municipal Judge.
B. 
Notice; hearing. The Municipal Judge shall notify, in writing, the owner or keeper of an allegedly vicious dog that a complaint has been made and require such person to appear before him at a stated time and place for a hearing. The Judge shall conduct the hearing in the same manner as he would conduct the trial of a criminal case. If the Judge decides that the dog complained of is a vicious dog, he shall so notify the owner or keeper of the dog.
C. 
Control. No person owning or keeping a dog which has been determined to be a vicious dog shall permit such dog to be off the property of its owner or keeper without being securely muzzled.
A. 
Causes for impounding. The Poundmaster shall take into custody and impound or cause to be taken into custody and impounded any of the following dogs:
(1) 
Any unlicensed dog running at large in violation of the provisions of this chapter.
(2) 
Any dog off the premises of the owner of or the person keeping or harboring such dog which the Poundmaster or his agent has reason to believe is a stray dog.
(3) 
Any dog off the premises of the owner of or the person keeping or harboring such dog without a current registration tag on its collar.
(4) 
Any female dog in season off the premises of the owner of or the person keeping or harboring such dog.
(5) 
Any dog which has been determined to be a vicious dog as provided in § 286-6, provided that such dogs may also be seized by any police officer, and provided further that, if such dogs cannot be seized with safety, they may be killed.
B. 
Access to premises. Any officer or agent authorized or empowered to perform any duty under this chapter is hereby authorized to go upon any premises to seize for impounding any dog which he may lawfully seize and impound when such officer is in immediate pursuit of the dog, except upon the premises of the owner of the dog if the owner is present and forbids the same.
C. 
Notice of seizure.
(1) 
If any dog so impounded or seized wears a registration tag, collar or harness having inscribed thereon or attached thereto the name and address of any person or the owner of or the person keeping or harboring the dog is known, the Poundmaster shall immediately serve on the person whose address is given on the collar or on the person owning, keeping or harboring the dog a notice, in writing, stating that the dog has been seized and will be liable to be disposed of or destroyed if not claimed within seven (7) days after service of the notice.
(2) 
A notice under this subsection may be served either by delivering it to the person on whom it is to be served or by leaving it at the person's usual or last known place of abode or at the address given on the collar or by forwarding it by mail in a prepaid letter addressed to that person at his usual or last known place of abode or to the address given on the collar.
D. 
Disposition of unclaimed dogs. The Poundmaster is authorized and empowered to cause the destruction of any unclaimed dog, in as humane a manner as possible, under any of the following contingencies:
(1) 
When any dog so seized has not been claimed by the person owning, keeping or harboring such dog within seven (7) days after notice or within seven (7) days of the dog's detention when notice has not been or cannot be given, as set forth in the previous subsection.
(2) 
If the person owning, keeping or harboring any dog 0so seized has not claimed the dog and has not paid all expenses incurred by reason of its detention, including maintenance, not to exceed five dollars ($5.) for the first day and one dollar ($1.) per day for each additional day.
(3) 
If the seized dog is unlicensed at the time of its seizure and the person owning, keeping or harboring such dog has not produced a license and registration tag as provided in this chapter.
No person shall own, keep or harbor a dog in the borough except in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and the following regulations:
A. 
Wearing of registration. All dogs which are required by the provisions of this chapter to be licensed shall wear a collar or harness with the registration tag for such 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 chapter.
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 permit it to run at large upon the public streets or in any public park, public building or other public place within the borough.
F. 
Leashing of dogs. No person owning, keeping or harboring any dog shall permit it to be upon the public streets or in any of the public places of the borough unless such dog is accompanied by a person over the age of twelve (12) years and is securely confined and controlled by an adequate leash not more than six (6) feet long.
G. 
Property damage. No person owning, keeping or harboring a dog shall permit it to do any injury or to do any damage to any lawn, shrubbery, flowers, grounds or property.
Where it has been determined by a physician that a person has been bitten by a dog, such 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 must comply with the following procedures:
A. 
Have the dog examined by a licensed veterinarian within twelve (12) hours.
B. 
Have the dog kept in quarantine in the owner's home or at a kennel for a period of ten (10) days.
C. 
At the end of ten (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 such period in each year as may seem advisable to the Council.
The Council shall have the power to appoint a Poundmaster, whose duty it shall be to enforce the provisions of this chapter. The Council shall also have the power to appoint one (1) or more persons to be known as "dog catchers," who may impound unlicensed dogs running at large in violation of the provisions of this chapter and who shall make a monthly and annual report to the Council.