[Amended 8-3-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-12]
For the purposes of this article, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings stated herein unless their use in the text of this chapter clearly demonstrates a different meaning. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words used in the plural number include the singular number, and words used in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
ANIMAL
Dogs, cats and other owned animals (hereinafter referred to as "animals").
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
A certified municipal animal control officer or in the absence of such an officer, the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality or his designee.
AT LARGE
Off the property of the owner and not on a leash.
IMMEDIATE
Shall mean that the pet solid waste is removed at once, without delay.
LICENSING OF ANIMALS
Any dog which has attained the age seven months or which possesses a set of permanent teeth.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
OWNER/KEEPER
Any person who shall possess, maintain, house or harbor any pet or otherwise have custody of any pet, whether or not the owner of such pet.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, or political subdivision of this state subject to municipal jurisdiction.
PET
A domesticated animal (other than a disability assistance animal) kept for amusement or companionship.
PET SOLID WASTE
Waste matter expelled from the bowels of the pet; excrement.
POUND
An establishment for the confinement of animals.
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG
Any dog or dog hybrid declared potentially dangerous by a municipal court pursuant to Section 7 of P.L. 1989, c. 307 (N.J.S.A. 4:19-23).
PROPER DISPOSAL
Placement in a designated waste receptacle, or other suitable container, and discarded in a refuse container which is regularly emptied by the municipality or some other refuse collector; or disposal into a system designed to convey domestic sewage for proper treatment and disposal.
VICIOUS ANIMAL
Any animal, as defined in this section, which attacks and bites or attempts to attack and bite persons or dogs or other animals without being incited to do so or which has shown such savagery, fierceness or ferocity as to indicate that it is a threat to the safety of other animals or persons.
VICIOUS DOG
Any dog or hybrid declared vicious by a municipal court pursuant to Section 6 of P.L. 1989, c. 307 (N.J.S.A. 4:19-22).
Any person who shall own, keep or harbor a dog of licensing age shall, within 10 days after the acquisition thereof, and annually thereafter in the month of January, apply for and procure from the Animal Control Officer a license and official metal registration tag for each such dog owned, kept or harbored and shall place upon each such a dog collar or harness with the registration tag securely fastened thereto. Such license shall state the breed, sex, age, name, color and markings of the dog for which the license and registration are sought, whether it is of a long- or short-haired variety and the name, street and post office address of the owner and the person who shall keep or harbor such dog. Upon request by the Animal Control Officer, the license and official registration shall be produced.
[Amended 12-1-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-12]
A. 
Any person applying for a license and registration shall pay for each new or renewed license a fee of $13 per dog. Persons applying for a license who present a certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian stating that the dog has been spayed or neutered shall be entitled to a reduction of $3 in the annual fee.
B. 
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 hereinabove provided for, except that the owners and keepers of such dogs shall not be required to pay any fee therefor.
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 101-5, Canvass of dogs, amended 4-5-2006 by Ord. No 2006-8; 8-2-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-15, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
It shall be unlawful for any person owning, keeping, harboring or having the custody and possession of any animal, whether licensed or not, to permit such animal to be at large within the Township unless it is securely confined in a vehicle and under the direct and immediate close supervision of a person capable of controlling such animal or is confined upon a leash not more than eight feet in length.
It shall be unlawful for any person owning, keeping, harboring or having the custody and possession of any animal, whether licensed or not, whether on a leash or not, to permit such animal to be in any public park, on playing fields, or at the pool pavilion complex.
The Township Council is hereby authorized and empowered to appoint one or more persons, to be known as "Poundkeeper" or "Poundkeepers," with full power and authority to carry out the provisions of this article. The Township Council shall fix the compensation to be paid to such person or persons so appointed and shall pay the same out of the moneys of the Township.
A. 
Any animal found at large within the Township shall be taken into custody and impounded or caused to be taken into custody and impounded by the Poundkeeper or any person authorized by him and acting on his behalf.
B. 
If any animal so seized wears a collar or harness having inscribed thereon or attached thereto the name and address of any person or a registration tag of the owner, or if the person keeping or harboring said animal is known, the Poundkeeper or any person authorized by him and acting on his behalf shall forthwith serve on the person whose address is given on the collar or on the owner or person keeping or harboring said animal, if known, a notice in writing stating that the animal has been seized and that it will be liable to be offered for adoption or destroyed if not claimed within seven days after the service of the notice.
C. 
The notice under this section may be served either by delivering it to the person to 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. 
When any animal so seized has been detained for seven days after notice, where notice can be given as set forth above, or has been detained for seven days after seizure, when no notice has been given as set forth above, and if the owner or person keeping or harboring said animal has not claimed said animal and paid all expenses incurred by reason of its detention, including the current maintenance fee per day, and if the animal is unlicensed (but required to be licensed) at the time of the seizure, and the owner or person keeping or harboring said animal has not produced a license and registration tag for said animal, the Poundkeeper or any such person authorized by him in his behalf may cause the animal to be destroyed in a manner causing as little pain as possible.
A. 
The Poundkeeper of the Township shall be responsible for all animals impounded or taken into custody under the provisions of this article or state statutes and shall designate the place where such animals are to be impounded or held in custody.
B. 
This article shall be enforced by the Animal Control Officer of the Township. However, nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit any police officer of the Township from enforcing any provisions thereof
A. 
Any person in violation of the license and registration §§ 101-2 and 101-3 of this article shall be subject to a late fee of $5 per month for each month beginning with February 1 of each year, up to the time a license is obtained.
[Amended 12-1-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-12]
B. 
In addition to the late fee as stated in Subsection A, if any person remains in violation of §§ 101-2 and 101-3 after March 1, or in violation of any other sections of this article at any time, a complaint can and will be made immediately against such person in the Municipal Court by the Animal Control Officer, and such person shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not exceeding $2,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days, or any combination thereof.
[Amended 4-5-2006 by Ord. No 2006-8; 8-2-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-15; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]