As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
DOG
Any dog, bitch or spayed bitch.
DOG OF LICENSING AGE
Any dog which has attained the age of seven months or which
possesses a set of permanent teeth.
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.
POUND
An establishment for the confinement of dogs seized either
under the provisions of this section or otherwise.
VICIOUS DOG
Includes any dog which at any time has attacked or shall
attack a human being or another dog or other domestic animal while
off the premises occupied by the person owning, keeping, harboring
or having the custody or possession of the attacking dog.
Any person who shall own, keep or harbor a dog
of licensing age shall, in the month of January and annually thereafter,
apply for and procure from the Township Clerk of the Township of Moorestown
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 12-18-1978 by Ord. No. 961; 11-15-1993 by Ord. No.
1684-93; 6-5-2007 by Ord. No. 17-2007]
The annual fee to be paid to the Township for
each dog license and each renewal thereof issued by the township shall
be $12.80 when said license is purchased during the month of January.
Renewal licenses purchased on and after February 1 and before April
1 shall be assessed a late fee of $9. Renewal licenses purchased on
and after April 1 shall be assessed a late fee of $14. In addition
to the aforesaid fees, all applicable surcharges or fees required
by the State of New Jersey shall also be paid.
Dogs used as guides for blind persons and commonly
known as "Seeing Eye" dogs shall be licensed and registered as other
dogs, except that the owner of such dog shall not be required to pay
any fee 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 and pay therefor the full fee hereinbefore
provided.
It shall be unlawful for any person or corporation owning, keeping, harboring or having the custody or possession of any dog, whether registered or not, to permit such dog at any time to be in or upon any public street, avenue, road or highway or in or upon any public place or upon the lands of any person without the consent of the owner of such lands or to permit such dog at any time to run at large in the Township of Moorestown unless such dog shall be led by a chain, cord, thong or other leash in the hands of a person capable of leading and controlling such dog. Any such dog which shall be in violation of this subsection may be taken into custody and impounded and thereafter redeemed or destroyed in accordance with the procedure set forth in N.J.S.A. 4:19.15.1 (Chapter
15 of the Laws of 1941, as amended and supplemented).
Any vicious dog which shall be in violation
of this chapter may be seized, taken into custody, impounded and destroyed
or otherwise disposed of by the Poundkeeper, Dog Warden, any member
of the Police Department of said Township or by any other person or
persons who may be employed or appointed by said Township or by its
governing body for the purpose.
No person shall keep, harbor or maintain any
dog which habitually barks, whines, howls or makes other disturbing
noises.
No person in the Township of Moorestown shall
own, possess, harbor or have in his custody any dog seven months of
age or older unless such dog has been vaccinated or inoculated against
rabies by a licensed veterinarian, such vaccination or inoculation
to consist of antirabies vaccine of standard and accepted quality
and formula. At expiration, the vaccination or inoculation shall be
repeated in accordance with state statutes.
Such person shall obtain from the veterinarian
who vaccinates or inoculates the dog against rabies a certificate
showing the date of such vaccination or inoculation, the kind of vaccination
or inoculation, a description of the dog and the name and address
of the owner thereof and indicating the year of such vaccination or
inoculation. Said certificate shall be presented, prior to the issuance
of such license, to the person designated to issue dog licenses.