[Adopted by the Board of Health of the Borough of Middlesex 1-6-1992
by Ord. No. 125BH. Amendments noted where applicable.
No person, firm or corporation shall own, possess, harbor or have in
custody any dog, cat or other animal within the Borough of Middlesex over
six months of age unless such has been vaccinated against rabies by a duly
licensed veterinarian. Such vaccination shall be repeated within the range
of known immunization or annually thereafter and shall consist of the recommended
dosage as prescribed by the manufacturer whom shall be duly licensed by the
United States Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture;
provided, however, that any dog, cat or other animal may be exempted from
the requirement of such vaccination for a specified period of time by the
local Health Department upon the presentation of a certificate from a duly
licensed veterinarian stating that by reason of age, infirmity or other physical
condition the vaccination of such dog, cat or other animal for such specified
period of time is contraindicated and provided further that nothing herein
contained shall be deemed to require the vaccination of any dogs, cats or
other animals located in and confined to duly recognized and licensed kennels,
dog pounds, pet shops, shelters or veterinary hospitals.
Any person, firm or corporation owning, possessing, harboring or having
custody of any dogs, cats or other animals shall obtain from the veterinarian
who vaccinates said dogs, cats or other animals against rabies a certificate
supplied by the Health Officer or on a standard immunization certificate in
use by the licensed veterinarian of this or any other state or county and
shall, within 10 days of each vaccination or within 10 days after bringing
the dogs, cats or other animals into the Borough of Middlesex if the dogs,
cats or other animals were vaccinated before being brought into the Borough
of Middlesex, deliver said certificate to the Borough Clerk's office who shall
file same with the records of the Health Officer.
The Health Officer is hereby authorized and empowered to provide free
vaccination of such dogs, cats or other animals at a suitable clinic and place
designated by him to be conducted by a licensed veterinarian of the State
of New Jersey. Said Health Officer 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 chapter as he may deem necessary and
proper for the enforcement of this chapter.
Any person, firm or corporation owning, possessing, harboring or having
custody of any dog, cat or other animal suspected of having attacked or bitten
a human being or other animal or of having been bitten by or exposed to any
animal suspected of being rabid shall quarantine said dog, cat or other animal
at home or at a location approved by the local Health Department for the period
of time required by the regulations or recommended by the State Department
of Health, after which time the animal shall be examined by a licensed veterinarian
and written proof obtained that the animal is rabies free, and such proof
shall be presented to the local Health Department.
An animal quarantined under order of the local Health Department shall
not be released until written proof from a veterinarian that the animal is
free of rabies has been submitted to and accepted by the Health Officer or
his designee.
A.
The local Board of Health or the duly authorized agent of such
Board, within its jurisdiction, shall be permitted by the owner or person
in charge of a dog, cat or other animal which has attacked or bitten a person
or been exposed to a potentially rabid animal to examine the animal at anytime,
and daily is desired, within the confinement period so ordered by the local
Health Department to determine whether the animal shows symptoms of rabies
and that the requirements for confinement are being adhered to.
B.
If the animal dies within the confinement period or if the owner
or person in charge of the animal elects to destroy the animal at anytime
during the confinement period, the local Health Department may order a laboratory
examination for rabies be performed.
No person shall refuse, obstruct or interfere with the local Health
Department in making any examination or performing any duties authorized pursuant
to this chapter.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions
of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not to exceed
$100 or by imprisonment for a period of not to exceed 10 days, or by both
such fine and imprisonment, and each violation of any of the provisions of
this chapter and each day the same is violated shall be deemed and taken to
be a separate and distinct offense.
