[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Haddon 12-19-1966 by Ord. No. 520. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Animals — See Ch. 79.
Cats — See Ch. 91.
Fees — See Ch. 111.
Animals in parks — See Ch. 172.
Tying dogs to trees — See Ch. 218.
In the interpretation of this chapter, the following words and phrases, unless the context shows another sense to be intended, shall be held to have the meanings hereinafter stated:
DOG
Any dog, bitch or spayed bitch.
[Amended 4-7-1987 by Ord. No. 819]
DOG OF LICENSING AGE
Any dog which has attained the age of seven months or which possesses a set of permanent teeth.
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 establishment, not a kennel, wherein animals for sale are kept or displayed.
POUND
Any establishment for the confinement of dogs seized either under the provisions of this chapter or otherwise.
POUNDMASTER
An agent or agents of the Township who have been designated as enforcement officers of the provisions of this chapter.
SHELTER
Any establishment where dogs are received, housed and distributed.
[Amended 4-7-1987 by Ord. No. 819]
SPAYED FEMALE DOG
A female dog certified by a licensed veterinarian to have been spayed.
UNSPAYED FEMALE DOG
A female dog which has not been certified by a licensed veterinarian to have been spayed.
No person shall keep or harbor any dog within the Township without first filing an application with the Township Clerk, whereupon, after paying the fee hereinafter set forth to the Clerk, a license and registration tag shall be issued by the Clerk. No person shall keep or harbor any dog in the Township except in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
Any person who shall own, keep or harbor a dog of licensing age shall annually, in the month of January, apply for and procure in the manner above set forth a license and official metal registration tag for each such dog so owned, kept or harbored, and shall place upon each such dog a collar or harness with the registration tag securely fastened thereto.
[Amended 1-3-1967 by Ord. No. 521; 8-16-1983 by Ord. No. 749; 12-26-2006 by Ord. No. 1170]
The person applying for the license and registration tag shall pay the fee specified by Chapter 111, Fees, to the Township of Haddon, along with such fee as shall currently be required to be collected and forwarded to the State of New Jersey as prescribed by the statutes and regulations of the State of New Jersey with respect to spayed and neutered dogs and with respect to unspayed and nonneutered dogs. Such licenses, registration tags and renewals thereof shall expire on the last day of January of the year following the year in which licenses, registration tags and renewals thereof are issued.
[Amended 4-23-2024 by Ord. No. 1454]
Dogs used as guides for blind persons and commonly known as "Seeing Eye" dogs, dogs used to assist handicapped persons and commonly known as "service dogs" and dogs used to assist deaf persons and commonly known as "hearing ear" dogs shall be licensed and registered as other dogs, but no fee shall be required therefor.
The owner of any newly acquired dog of licensing age or of any dog which attains licensing age shall make application for license and registration tag for such dog within 10 days after such acquisition or age attainment.
The application shall state the breed, sex, age, color and markings of the dog for which license and registration are sought and whether it is of a long- or short-haired variety; also the name, street and post office address of the owner and the person who shall keep or harbor such dog. The information on the application and the registration number issued for the dog shall be preserved for a period of three years by the Clerk. In addition, the Clerk shall forward similar information to the State Department of Health. Registration numbers shall be issued in order of the application.
A. 
Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Township any dog licensed in another state for the current year and carrying a registration tag and shall keep the same or permit the same to be kept within the Township for a period of more than 90 days, shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag for each such dog.
B. 
Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Township any unlicensed dog and shall keep the same or permit the same to be kept within the Township for a period of more than 10 days shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag for each such dog.
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.
A. 
License required. Any person who keeps or operates or proposes to establish in the Township a kennel, a pet shop, a shelter or a pound shall apply to the Clerk for a license entitling him to keep or operate such establishment.
B. 
Application. The application shall describe the premises where the establishment is located or is proposed to be located and the purpose for which it is to be maintained. Such application shall be accompanied by the written approval of the Fire Marshal, the Construction Code Official and the Health Inspector of the Township showing compliance with the local and state rules and regulations governing location of and sanitation at such establishments.
[Amended 4-7-1987 by Ord. No. 819]
C. 
Purpose; expiration. 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 the last day of June of each year.
[Amended 4-7-1987 by Ord. No. 819]
D. 
Revocation. Such licenses shall be subject to revocation by the governing body of the Township on recommendations of the State Department of Health or the Health Inspector of the Township for failure to comply with the rules and regulations of the State Department of Health or the Board of Commissioners governing the same, after the owner has been offered a hearing by either the State Department or the Board of Commissioners.
E. 
Individual licenses. Any person holding such license shall not be required to secure individual licenses for dogs owned by such licensee and kept at such establishment. Such licenses shall not be transferable to another owner or different premises.
F. 
Fees. The annual license fee for a kennel, pet shop, shelter or pound shall be as set forth in Chapter 111, Fees.
[Amended 12-26-2006 by Ord. No. 1170]
G. 
Information sent to state. 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 therefor are issued, which list shall include the name and address of the licensee and the kind of license issued.
H. 
Control of dogs. 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 control.
I. 
Certain sales prohibited.
[Added 3-22-2016 by Ord. No. 1352]
(1) 
Definitions. When used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
ANIMAL CARE FACILITY
An animal control center or animal shelter, maintained by or under contract with any state, county, or municipality, whose mission and practice is, in whole or significant part, the rescue and placement of animals in permanent homes or rescue organizations.
ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATION
Any not-for-profit organization which has been granted tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code and whose mission and practice is, in whole or in significant part, the rescue and placement of animals in permanent homes.
CAT
A member of the species of domestic cat, Felis Catus.
DOG
A member of the species of domestic dog, Canis Familiaris.
OFFER FOR SALE
To sell, offer for sale or adoption, advertise for the sale of, barter, auction, give away or otherwise dispose of a dog or cat.
PET SHOP
A retail establishment where dogs and cats are sold, exchanged, bartered or offered for sale as pet animals to the general public at retail. Such definition shall not include an animal care facility or animal rescue organization, as defined.
(2) 
Restrictions on the sale of animals.
(a) 
A pet shop may offer for sale only those dogs and cats that the pet shop has obtained from or displays in cooperation with:
[1] 
An animal care facility; or
[2] 
An animal rescue organization.
(b) 
A pet shop shall not offer for sale a dog or cat that is younger than eight weeks old.
[Amended 8-16-1983 by Ord. No. 749]
License fees and other moneys collected or received under the provisions of this chapter, except registration tag fees, shall be forwarded to the Department of Revenue and Finance of the Township within 30 days after collection or receipt and shall be placed in a special account separate from any of the other accounts of the Township and which shall be used for the following purposes only: for collecting, keeping and disposing of dogs liable to seizure under this chapter; for local prevention and control of rabies; for providing antirabic treatment under the direction of the Bureau of Health for any person known or suspected to have been exposed to rabies; and for all other purposes prescribed by the statutes of New Jersey governing the subject and for administering the provisions of this chapter. 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 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 Township any amount then in such account which is in excess of the total amount paid into the special account during the last two fiscal years next preceding. The current state fee applicable to each dog registered hereunder shall be forwarded to the State Department of Health within 30 days of collection by the Clerk.
The governing body of the Township shall have power to enter the necessary contracts with some proper person, who shall be known as the "Poundmaster," who shall catch and impound dogs running at large in violation of the provisions of this chapter.
A. 
Dogs not licensed pursuant to this chapter or found not under restraint or abandoned may be seized and impounded by any police or humane officer or other authorized person. Impoundment may be in any pound or shelter designated by the Township. The place of impoundment shall be open for public inspection on a regular schedule.
B. 
If the dog wears a license tag or if the owner can in any other reasonable way be located, the owner shall, within 12 hours, be notified by telephone, if possible, and otherwise by mail to his last known address that the dog has been impounded.
C. 
If a dog is not redeemed by the owner within seven days after impoundment, the dog may be disposed of in one of the following ways, but in no other way: euthanasia, using a method approved by the Humane Society of the United States, or release for adoption by a new owner who shows evidence of ability and intention to provide the dog with an appropriate home and humane care, provided that no unspayed female dog shall be released for adoption unless a licensed veterinarian certifies in writing that he has been paid in full for spaying the dog and will perform the operation within 10 days if over 5 1/2 months old or at the age of 5 1/2 months if a puppy.
D. 
An owner redeeming a dog from impoundment shall pay, before release of such dog, an impoundment fee and boarding charge in the amount stipulated in the Township's current contract with the shelter or as set by resolution of the Board of Commissioners.
[Amended 4-7-1987 by Ord. No. 819]
E. 
Any new owner adopting an impounded dog from the pound or shelter, when applicable, shall first obtain a license for the dog.
F. 
When dogs are found running at large and their ownership is known to the Poundmaster, such dogs need not be impounded, but the agent may, at his discretion, first warn the owner and upon next violation cite the owner of such dogs to appear in court to answer to charges of violation of this chapter.
G. 
For each dog or other animal impounded under the terms of this chapter, a record shall be kept stating the date of impoundment, description of animal, license number, breed, age, sex, name and address of person from whom acquired, date disposed of, method of disposal and name and address of person to whom animal is transferred. These records shall be available for public inspection.
H. 
The manner in which animals are kept shall be in conformance with all rules and regulations prescribed by state law.
[Amended 4-7-1987 by Ord. No. 819]
There shall not be permitted more than two dogs of three months of age or over to be kept or maintained in or on the premises of any home, dwelling, apartment, residential unit or business place; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to premises for which a license has been obtained, as provided in this chapter, for the operation of a kennel, pet shop, shelter or pound.
No person owning or having charge, care, custody or control of any dog shall cause, permit or allow the same to be or to run at large upon any street, alley or other place or upon any private property or premises other than that of the person owning or having charge, care, custody or control of such dog within the Township unless such dog is restrained by a substantial chain or leash and is in the charge and control of a competent person.
Any officer or agent authorized or empowered to perform any duty under this chapter is hereby authorized to go on any premises to seize for impounding any dog which he may lawfully seize and impound when such officer or agent is in immediate pursuit of such dog, except upon the premises of the owner of the dog if such owner is present and forbids the same.
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 Township unless such dog is accompanied by a responsible person and is securely confined and controlled by an adequate leash not more than six feet long.
Any dog which has attacked or bitten any human being or which habitually attacks other dogs or domestic animals is hereby defined to be a vicious dog. For the purpose of this section, it shall be the duty of the Police Department to receive and investigate complaints against such dogs, and when any dog complained against shall be deemed by such Police Department to be a vicious dog as herein defined, the Police Department shall report the facts to the Municipal Judge of the Township, who shall thereupon cause the owner or person harboring such dog to be notified in writing of the complaint against such dog and to appear before the Municipal Judge at a stated time and place. The Judge, at the time set for the hearing, shall inquire into the facts and give all interested parties and persons an opportunity to be heard under oath and to be represented by counsel, and the Judge shall decide in accordance with the evidence before him, and if the Judge shall decide that such dog complained of is a vicious dog as defined by this section, notice of such decision shall be given to the owner or person harboring such dog. No dog which has been so determined to be a vicious dog shall be permitted to run at large or be upon any street or public place in the Township except while securely muzzled and under leash as provided in this chapter, and the owner or person harboring any such vicious dog who shall suffer or permit such dog to run at large or be upon any street or public place in the Township while not securely muzzled and under leash shall be guilty of a violation of this chapter.
[Added 4-7-1987 by Ord. No. 819]
A. 
No person who owns, keeps, harbors, walks or has custody of a dog shall permit, cause, suffer or allow such dog to defecate upon, soil, defile or commit any nuisance of any kind on any public or private property without the express permission of the owner of such property.
B. 
In the event a dog shall soil, defile or defecate upon any public or private property, the owner, keeper, harborer and/or person having custody of said dog shall immediately remove and sanitarily dispose of said dog's feces and droppings deposited by such dog, which removal shall be by a shovel, container, disposal bag or any other sanitary manner.
C. 
Disturbing noises. No person within the limits of the Township of Haddon shall keep, harbor or maintain any dog which shall disturb the neighborhood by excessive barking, whining, howling or making other disturbing noises.
[Amended 2-18-1992 by Ord. No. 929]
Any person who violates or refuses to comply with any part of any section of this chapter or with the rules and regulations promulgated by the State Department of Health governing the sanitary conduct and operation of kennels, pet shops, shelters and pounds, to preserve sanitation therein and prevent the spread of rabies and other diseases of dogs within and from such establishments, shall be liable to a penalty of not less than $5 nor more than $50 for each offense, to be recovered by and in the name of the Township; except that for the first offense in cases of violation of §§ 104-2, 104-3, 104-6 and 104-8 of this chapter, the penalty shall be not less than $1 nor more than $50, to be recovered in the same manner. A person who refuses or neglects to pay forthwith the amount of a judgment rendered against him and the costs and charges incident thereto shall be committed by the court to the county jail for a period not exceeding 10 days in the case of a first conviction, and in the case of a conviction for a second, subsequent or continuing violation, for a period not exceeding 30 days.