A.
No person, firm or corporation shall own, possess,
harbor or have in custody in the Township of Lopatcong any dog or
cat over six months of age unless such animal has been vaccinated
against rabies by a duly licensed veterinarian of the State of New
Jersey. Such vaccination shall be repeated annually unless a three-year
vaccine shall be used and shall consist of antirabies vaccine of the
standard and accepted formula and manufactured under a license of
the United States Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture,
in a dosage determined by such duly licensed, veterinarian to be sufficient
to inoculate said animal against rabies for a period of one year or
three years, depending upon the type of vaccine; provided, however,
that any such animal may be exempt from the requirement of such vaccination
for a specified period of time upon the presentation of a certificate
from a duly licensed veterinarian that by reason of age, infirmity
or other physical condition the vaccination of such animal for such
specified period of time is not indicated.
B.
No license required for the owning and keeping of
any dog, by virtue of any law of the State of New Jersey or ordinance
of the Township of Lopatcong, shall be issued to any person, firm
or corporation unless a certificate issued by a duly licensed veterinarian
of the State of New Jersey, as hereinabove provided, is presented
to the licensing official, showing that such dog has been vaccinated
against rabies in the manner provided herein. Such certificate shall
show and certify that said vaccination will be valid through October
31 of the licensing year.
C.
The Township Council or its authorized agent is hereby
authorized and empowered to provide free vaccination for such dog
or other warm-blooded animal at a suitable clinic and place designated
by it, to be conducted by a duly licensed veterinarian of the State
of New Jersey. Said Township Council or its authorized agent is hereby
further authorized and empowered to make and adopt such rules and
regulations, not inconsistent or in conflict with the terms and provisions
of this article, as it may deem proper and necessary for the carrying
out of the purposes of this article.
The provisions of N.J.S.A. 26:4-78 et seq.,
as may be amended from time to time, shall be followed whenever there
is an incident of an animal or person being bitten by an animal.
A.
Any violation of this article shall, upon conviction,
be punishable 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.
