[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.
Dogs, cats and other owned animals (hereinafter referred
to as "animals").
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.
Off the property of the owner and not on a leash.
Shall mean that the pet solid waste is removed at once, without
delay.
Any dog which has attained the age six months or which possesses
a set of permanent teeth.
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.
Any individual, corporation, company, partnership, firm,
association, or political subdivision of this state subject to municipal
jurisdiction.
A domesticated animal (other than a disability assistance
animal) kept for amusement or companionship.
Waste matter expelled from the bowels of the pet; excrement.
An establishment for the confinement of animals.
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).
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.
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.
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.
The disposition of license fees and registration
fees collected hereunder shall be in accordance with N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.11.
[Amended 4-5-2006 by Ord. No 2006-8; 8-2-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-15]
The Animal Control Officer of the Township shall
biannually cause a canvass to be made of all dogs owned, kept or harbored
within the Township and shall report on or before September 12 of
each year to the Township Clerk and to the State Department of Health
the result thereof, setting forth in separate columns the names and
addresses of persons owning, keeping or harboring unlicensed dogs
owned, kept or harbored by each of the said persons, together with
a complete description of each of said unlicensed dogs.
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
No person shall keep, harbor or maintain any
animal which habitually barks or cries to the extent of annoying adjoining
neighbors and residents.
No person owning, keeping or harboring an animal
shall permit or suffer it to do any injury or damage to any lawn,
garden, shrubbery, flowers, grounds or other property.
No person owning, keeping or harboring an animal
shall permit or suffer it to do any injury or damage to any poultry
or domestic animals.
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 $1,000, 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]
