[Adopted 4-27-1998 by Ord. No. 98-3]
[1]
Editor's Note: For fines related to offenses of certain sections of this article, see § 250-10.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CERTIFIED ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
A person 18 years of age or older who has satisfactorily completed the course of study approved by the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services and the Police Training Commission as prescribed by Paragraphs (1) through (3) of Subsection a of § 3 of P.L. 1983, c. 525 (N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16a); or who has been employed in the State of New Jersey in the capacity of, and with similar responsibilities to those required of, a certified animal control officer pursuant to the provisions of P.L. 1983, c. 525, for a period of three years before January 17, 1987.
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.
KENNEL
Any establishment wherein or whereon the business of boarding or selling dogs or breeding dogs for sale is carried on, except a pet shop.
OWNER
When applied to the proprietorship of a dog, shall mean and include every person having a right of property in such dog and every person who has such dog in his keeping.
PET SHOP
Any room or group of rooms, cage or exhibition pen, not part of a kennel, wherein dogs for sale are kept or displayed.
POUND
An establishment for the confinement of dogs seized either under the provisions of this article or otherwise.
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG
A potentially dangerous dog is one that has been adjudicated to be a potentially dangerous in accordance with N.J.S.A. 4:19-23.
[Added 1-22-2018 by Ord. No. 18-02]
SHELTER
Any establishment where dogs are received, housed and distributed.
A. 
No person shall own, keep or harbor any dog within the Township without first obtaining a license thereof, to be issued by the Bureau of Animal Control upon application by the owner and payment of the prescribed fee, and no person shall keep or harbor any dog except in compliance with the provisions of this article.
[Amended 11-13-2008 by Ord. No. 08-21]
B. 
The owner of any dog may, if the license tag is mislaid, stolen or lost, procure a placement tag upon the payment of the prescribed fee. The owner must provide adequate proof that the dog is currently licensed for the year in which the replacement tag is desired.
C. 
No license shall be issued without the owner of the dog providing proof that the dog has its rabies inoculation. The rabies inoculation must not expire prior to November 1 of the current licensing year. The rabies inoculation and the expiration of the inoculation shall be determined using the Compendium of Animal Rabies Control of 1997, issued by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc., and later editions, or such other procedures as recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
[Added 11-13-2008 by Ord. No. 08-21]
Any person who shall own, keep or harbor a dog of licensing age shall, in the month of January of each year, and annually thereafter, apply for and procure from the Bureau of Animal Control a license and official metal registration tag for each such dog so owned, kept or harbored and shall place upon each dog a collar or harness with the registration tag securely fastened.
The person applying for the license and registration tag shall pay a fee as provided for in Chapter 250, Fees and Escrows, Article II, for the licensing of each dog and the additional sum in Chapter 250, Fees and Escrows, Article II, for the registration tag for each dog; and for each annual renewal, the fee for the license and for the registration tag shall be the same, or as amended by the Council, as for the original license and tag. Owners of unspayed/unneutered dogs shall pay an additional fee as provided for in Chapter 250, Fees and Escrows, Article II. The licenses, registration tags and renewals thereof shall expire on the last day of January in each year.
Dogs used as guides for blind persons and commonly known as "Seeing Eye" dogs, as well as dogs used to assist handicapped persons, commonly known as "service" dogs or dogs used to assist deaf persons, commonly known as "hearing/ear" dogs, shall be licensed and registered as other dogs as provided for in this article, except that the owner or keeper of such dog shall not be required to pay any fee.
Any dog owner or person harboring a dog, found to have an unlicensed dog by the Township Animal Control Officer, dog canvassers or any other municipal official after March 1, shall be required to pay an additional delinquent fee as provided in Chapter 250, Fees and Escrows, Article II, plus the required license and registration tag fees as provided in said Chapter 250, in addition to any fine imposed for failure to obtain a dog license before February 1. The aforementioned delinquent fee shall not apply to dogs which have been acquired by the owner after March 1, on which the license fee shall be the same as required in Chapter 250, Fees and Escrows, Article II. The owner, however, shall present sufficient proof to establish that the dog was acquired after March 1.
Only one license and registration tag shall be required in any licensing year for any dog owned in New Jersey, and such license and tag issued by any other municipality of this state shall be accepted by the Township as evidence of compliance with §§ 148-9 and 148-10.
The owner of any newly acquired dog of licensing age or of any dog which attains licensing age shall make application for a license and registration tag for such dog within 10 days after such acquisition or age attainment.
A. 
The application shall state the breed, sex, age, color and markings of the dog for which license and registration are sought; whether it is of a long- or shorthaired variety; and the name, street and post office address of the owner and the person who shall keep or harbor such dog.
B. 
The information on the application and the registration number issued for the dog shall be preserved for a period of three years by the Bureau of Animal Control. Registration numbers shall be issued in the order of the applications.
[Amended 11-13-2008 by Ord. No. 08-21]
C. 
The Bureau of Animal Control shall forward to the State Department of Health and Senior Services each month, on forms furnished by the Department, an accurate account of registration numbers issued or otherwise disposed of.
[Amended 11-13-2008 by Ord. No. 08-21]
A. 
Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Township any dog licensed in another state for the current year, and bearing a registration tag, and shall keep the same or permit the same to be kept within the Township for a period of more than 90 days, shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag for each such dog, unless a license for such dog is not required under this article.
B. 
Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Township any unlicensed dog and shall keep the same or permit the same to be kept within the Township for a period of more than 10 days shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag for each such dog, unless a license for such dog is not required under this article.
A. 
No person, except an officer in the performance of his duties, shall remove a registration tag from the collar of any dog without the consent of the owner, nor shall any person attach a registration tag to a dog for which it was not issued.
B. 
No licensed dog shall be allowed off the premises of the person harboring or keeping the dog without the metal registration tag attached to its harness or collar.
A. 
License required; exemption for individual dog licenses.
(1) 
Any person who keeps or operates or proposes to establish a kennel, a pet shop, a shelter or a pound shall apply to the Bureau of Animal Control; for a license to keep or operate such establishment. All licenses issued for such establishments shall state the purpose for which the establishment is maintained, shall expire annually on June 30 and shall not be transferable to another owner or different premises.
[Amended 11-13-2008 by Ord. No. 08-21]
(2) 
Any person holding such license shall not be required to secure individual licenses for dogs owned by such licensee and kept at such establishments.
B. 
Application. The application shall describe the premises where the establishment for a kennel, pet shop, shelter or pound is located or is proposed to be located, the purpose for which it is to be maintained, and shall be accompanied by the written approval of the Township Bureau of Animal Control showing compliance with the local and state rules and regulations governing the location of and sanitation at such establishments.
[Amended 11-13-2008 by Ord. No. 08-21]
C. 
Revocation of license to operate establishment for dogs. All licenses issued for a kennel, pet shop, shelter or pound shall be subject to revocation by the Mayor on recommendation of the State Department of Health and Senior Services or the Township Bureau of Animal Control for failure to comply with the applicable provisions of this section, or the rules and regulations of the State Department of Health and Senior Services, or of the Township Bureau of Animal Control governing the same, after the licensee has been afforded a hearing by either the State Department of Health and Senior Services or the Mayor.
[Amended 11-13-2008 by Ord. No. 08-21; 4-27-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-08]
D. 
License fees for dog establishments; exemption for shelter or pound.
(1) 
The annual license fee for a kennel or pet shop shall be the fee established in Chapter 250, Fees and Escrows, Article II. No fee shall be charged for a shelter or pound, per Chapter 250, Fees and Escrows, Article II.
(2) 
License fees for dog establishments shall be paid with the application.
E. 
Permitting dogs off premises. No dog kept in a kennel, pet shop, shelter or pound shall be permitted off such premises, except on leash or in a crate, or under other safe control.
F. 
List of licensed dog establishments to be forwarded to State Department of Health and Senior Services. The Bureau of Animal Control shall forward to the State Department of Health and Senior Services a list of all kennels, pet shops, shelters and pounds licensed, within 30 days after the licenses are issued, which list shall include the name and address of the licensee and the kind of license issued.
[Amended 11-13-2008 by Ord. No. 08-21]
A. 
License or other fees collected under the provisions hereof, except those paid to the state, shall be turned over to the Treasurer within 30 days of collection. The fees collected shall be accounted for and spent in accordance with N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.11, as amended.
B. 
The registration tag fee as established in Chapter 250, Fees and Escrows, Article II, for each dog shall be forwarded within 30 days after collection by the Bureau of Animal Control to the State Department of Health and Senior Services.
[Amended 11-13-2008 by Ord. No. 08-21]
[Amended 11-13-2008 by Ord. No. 08-21; 4-27-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-08]
The Animal Control Officer or such other person designated by the Mayor shall promptly after February 1 of each year cause a canvass to be made of all dogs owned, kept or harbored within the limits of the Township. He shall report on or before September 1 of each year to the Mayor, to the Township Bureau of Animal Control, and to the State Department of Health and Senior Services the result thereof, setting forth in separate columns the names and addresses of persons owning, keeping or harboring such dogs, the number of licensed dogs owned, kept or harbored by each person, together with the registration numbers of each dog, and the number of unlicensed dogs owned, kept or harbored by each person, together with a complete description of each unlicensed dog.
[Amended 4-27-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-08]
The Mayor may appoint, at such times and for such terms as may seem expedient, one or more persons, to be known as "Certified Animal Control Officer(s)." The Certified Animal Control Officer shall hold and maintain the required certification, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.1 et seq., as amended. The Certified Animal Control Officer shall have all powers provided for by law, including, but not limited to, powers to investigate and sign complaints, arrest violators, or otherwise act as an officer for detection, apprehension and arrest of offenders, hence the animal control, animal welfare or any animal cruelty laws of the state and ordinances in the Township, provided the officer has completed the training required by law.
The Certified Animal Control Officer or other persons designated by the Council shall take into custody or impound, or cause to be taken into custody and impounded, and thereafter destroyed or disposed of dogs as provided for pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16 et seq. and 4:19-18 et seq., as amended.
There shall be charged to the owner of each dog which is impounded, pursuant to § 148-22, the boarding fee listed in Chapter 250, Fees and Escrows, Article II, per day maintenance fee for each day or part thereof that the dog has been impounded, for picking up each dog; and the pickup/redemption fee listed in said Chapter 250, for each dog which is redeemed by its owner; which fees shall be paid when the dog is released.
Any officer or agent authorized or empowered to perform any duty under this article is hereby authorized to go upon any premises to seize for impounding any dog or dogs which he may lawfully seize and impound when such officer is in immediate pursuit of such dog or dogs, except upon the premises of the owner of the dog if the owner is present and forbids the same. In such case, the Animal Control Officer or agent may obtain the requisite search warrant or court order to seize the dog if a reasonable basis for seizure exists.
No person shall hinder, molest or interfere with anyone authorized or empowered to perform any duty under this article. Violators shall be subject to a mandatory minimum penalty of $100 and the maximum penalty set forth in Chapter 1, Article II, § 1-19, Violations and penalties.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
A. 
Barking or crying dogs. No person shall allow any dog in his keeping, custody, control or ownership to bark, howl or cry, continuously for any period longer than 1/2 hour between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. or otherwise repeatedly at intervals of more than 1/2 hour at any time of the day or night, in such volume or manner as to disturb the comfort, peace or repose of persons in the vicinity. In addition to the Animal Control Officer, the Township police are empowered to enforce this section.
B. 
Running at large.
(1) 
No person owning, keeping, or harboring any dog shall suffer or permit such animal to run at large in, upon, or through any public, quasi-public, or private street, public park or recreation area, public building, or any other public place or place to which the public is invited, and no person owning, keeping, or harboring any dog shall suffer or permit such animal to run at large in, upon, or through any private property without the authority of the owner of the private property.
(2) 
When a dog has been impounded for running at large, the Certified Animal Control Officer may file a complaint in the Municipal Court.
C. 
Dog to be accompanied by person over 12 years old; leash. No person owning, keeping or harboring any dog shall suffer or permit it to be upon the public or private streets or in any public place of the Township unless such dog is accompanied by a person over the age of 12 years and is securely confined and controlled by an adequate leash not more than six feet long.
D. 
Vicious dogs. The Animal Control Officer or the Township police are empowered to enforce the vicious or potentially dangerous dog statute, N.J.S.A. 4:19-17 et seq.
E. 
Quarantine. The Animal Control Officer may require that a dog that has bitten any person be quarantined for a ten-day period, as provided for by N.J.S.A. 26:4-82. Furthermore, the Animal Control Officer may require the dog owner have the animal examined by a veterinarian.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: For state law relating to rabies, see N.J.S.A. 26:4-78 et seq.
F. 
Dogs attacking other animals. When a dog attacks other dogs or domestic animals, a complaint may be made against the owner thereof for keeping or harboring such a dog. Violators shall be subject to a mandatory minimum penalty of $100 and the maximum penalty set forth in Chapter 1, Article II, § 1-19, Violations and penalties. The Animal Control Officer may require that the attacking dog be quarantined for a period of at least 10 days after the attack, similar to an attack on a person, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 26:4-82.
[Amended 2-27-2006 by Ord. No. 06-07]
G. 
Vernon Township shall require a kennel. pet shop or pound license to be issued for any property within Vernon Township in which 10 or more dogs are maintained. kept, or live. This section shall not, however. be applicable to a litter of puppies maintained in or upon any such property within six calendar months of birth. Any owner or occupant of such property not licensed with Vernon Township as a kennel, pet shop or pound wherein 10 or more dogs are kept shall be deemed to have violated this section. Violators of this subsection shall be subject to a mandatory minimum penalty of $100 per day. per dog exceeding the 10 dog or more threshold. The maximum penalty set forth in Chapter 1, Article II, § 1-19, Violations and penalties.
[Added 12-11-2023 by Ord. No. 23-24]
[Amended 7-24-2006 by Ord. No. 06-23]
A. 
Any dog off the premises of the owner or of the person keeping or harboring the dog may be impounded and disposed of in accordance with and pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16 et seq. and N.J.S.A. 4:19-18 et seq.
B. 
Any cat or other domestic animal which the Animal Control Officer or other authorized person has reason to believe is a stray or unowned animal may be impounded and disposed of in accordance with and pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16 et seq. and N.J.S.A. 4:19-18 et seq.
C. 
Any cat or other domestic animal off the premises of the owner or of the person keeping or harboring the cat or other domestic animal which the Animal Control Officer or other authorized person has reason to believe is the owner and which is suspected to be rabid, ill, injured, a threat to public health or safety or damaging public or private property may be impounded and disposed of in accordance with and pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16 et seq. and N.J.S.A. 4:19-18 et seq.
D. 
If the owner of an animal transfers ownership of the animal to Vernon Township and pays all fees required under Township ordinance, the Animal Control Officer may take the animal into custody from the owner's property and impound and dispose of the animal in accordance with and pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16 et seq. and N.J.S.A. 4:19-18 et seq.
A. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ANIMAL
Dog or cat, or other domestic animal.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
The Certified Animal Control Officers employed by Vernon Township.
BITE
A bite, scratch or contact with an animal's saliva in which the saliva may have entered an open wound or come in contact with mucous membranes.
CAT
Any member of the domestic feline species; male, female or altered.
CAT OF VACCINATION AGE
Any cat which has attained the age of three months, or which possesses a set of permanent teeth.
CONFINEMENT
The maintenance of the animal on a leash, attached to a cable run, held in an enclosed pen or within a building at all times.
CONFINEMENT PERIOD
The time period the animal must remain confined.
CURRENTLY VACCINATED
An animal which has obtained at least the minimum age for vaccination and has received the said vaccination from a licensed veterinarian. An animal shall be considered immunized 30 days after having been vaccinated and the vaccination has not expired, as per the recommendations contained in Subsection B(2) by a period not to exceed 30 days.
DOMESTIC ANIMAL
Dog, cat, ferret, and livestock.
ENFORCING OFFICER
The Animal Control Officer, Health Officer, or Sanitary Inspector with such respective duties provided for in this article.
[Amended 11-13-2008 by Ord. No. 08-21]
OWNER
When applied to the proprietorship of a domestic animal, shall include every person having a right of property (or custody) in such domestic animal and every person who has such domestic animal in his/her keeping, or who harbors or maintains a domestic animal or knowingly permits a domestic animal to remain on or about any premises occupied by that person.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, partnership, organization, or institution commonly recognized by law as a unit.
STRICT ISOLATION
The confinement of the animal in a cage or pen which allows feeding and cleaning of the cage or pen but prevents any physical contact between any persons or other animals and the isolated animal.
STRICT ISOLATION PERIOD
The time period the animal must remain in strict isolation.
WILD ANIMAL
Any animal which is not a domestic animal, including high bred wolves, whether vaccinated or not vaccinated.
B. 
Rabies vaccinations of cats.
(1) 
Vaccination against rabies required. No person shall own, keep, harbor or maintain any cat over three months of age within the Township of Vernon, unless such cat is vaccinated.
(2) 
Vaccination. All cats shall be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian in accordance with the latest "Compendium of Animal Rabies Vaccine and Recommendations for Immunization" published by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, except as provided for in Subsection B(4) and/or any policy formulated by the NJ State Department of Health and Senior Services.
(3) 
Vaccination certificate. A certification of vaccination shall be issued to the owner of each animal vaccinated by the veterinarian on a form recommended by the state.
(4) 
Exemptions. Any cat may be exempt from the requirements of such vaccination for a specified period of time by the Bureau of Animal Control, upon presentation of a veterinarian's certification stating that, because of an infirmity or other physical condition, or regimen of therapy, the inoculation of the cat shall be deemed inadvisable.
[Amended 11-13-2008 by Ord. No. 08-21]
(5) 
Proof of vaccination. Proof of vaccination shall be produced by any person owning, keeping, maintaining or harboring a cat upon the request of the enforcing officer or any police officer.
(6) 
It is recommended but not required that dogs or cats receiving a three-year vaccination in accordance with the guidelines in Subsection B(2) above be revaccinated in two years to prevent the lapse of immunization.
(7) 
It shall be a violation of this article for any person to own a cat which is not currently vaccinated unless the cat is less than four months old or the person has owned the cat less than 30 days.
C. 
Confinement or strict isolation required.
(1) 
Human bitten.
(a) 
Any currently vaccinated dog, cat or ferret which bites or scratches a human shall be confined for 10 days at the owner's expense, either at the owner's premises or at a veterinarian's office.
(b) 
Any dog, cat or ferret not currently vaccinated which bites a human shall be confined for 10 days at a veterinarian's office, at the owner's expense.
(c) 
Any currently vaccinated domestic animal, other than dogs and cats, which bites a person shall be confined for 14 days, at the owner's expense.
(d) 
Any domestic animal other than dogs and cats, not currently vaccinated, which bites a person shall be confined for 14 days and shall be isolated from contact with other animals for the confinement period, at the owner's expense.
(e) 
Any wild animal which bites a person shall be killed, if captured, and submitted for rabies examination. There is no acceptable confinement period for any wild animal, even if raised in captivity.
(2) 
Animals bitten by known or suspected rabid animal.
(a) 
Currently vaccinated dogs, cats, or other domestic animals shall be confined for 90 days at the owner's expense, either at the owner's premises or at a veterinarian's office.
(b) 
Dogs, cats or other domestic animals not currently vaccinated shall either be killed or placed in strict isolation for six months, at the owner's expense. If the owner does not kill the animal and the owner cannot construct the isolation pen or cage, then that animal shall be kept at a veterinarian's office at the owner's expense until an isolation cage or pen can be built by the owner. If the owner elects to kill the animal, then the owner shall be required to pay for preparation and transport of the specimen to the rabies laboratory, if required by the enforcing officer.
(c) 
If a domestic animal is bitten by another domestic animal, the biting animal shall be confined as specified in Subsection C(1)(a) through (d).
(d) 
If a domestic animal is bitten by a wild animal, then a specimen of the wild animal, if available, shall be prepared and examined for rabies, as specified in Subsection C(1)(e).
(e) 
If the biting animal is shown to be free from rabies at the time of the bite, based on Subsection C(2)(c) and (d) above, the bitten animal shall be released from confinement or isolation by the Animal Control Officer. The confinement or isolation period as specified in Subsection C(2)(a) and (b) above does not apply once the biting animal is shown to be free from rabies.
(3) 
The Animal Control Officer shall release the animal from confinement or isolation by issuing a written notice at the end of the confinement or isolation period, if after an inspection of the animal by the Animal Control Officer no evidence of rabies in the animal is observed.
(4) 
The Animal Control Officer shall make periodic inspections, approximately every three to five weeks, in order to ensure that an animal placed under confinement or isolation remains so during the confinement or isolation period.
(5) 
If at any time during the confinement or isolation period the animal shows any neurological signs consistent with rabies, the Animal Control Officer shall order the animal destroyed by a veterinarian and the specimen prepared and transported to the Rabies Laboratory. The owner is responsible for the payment of the preparation and transport.
(6) 
The owner of the animal ordered confined or placed in strict isolation shall be responsible to maintain the animal under the ordered confinement or strict isolation for the entire confinement or isolation period and shall not allow the animal to escape or be removed until given the written release notice from the Animal Control Officer.
(7) 
The Mayor in consultation with the Health Officer shall have the authority to order the confinement of any domestic animal not involved in a bite incident as described above, if this confinement is required to control the spread of rabies in Vernon Township.
[Amended 4-27-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-08]
D. 
Respective duties of the enforcing officers.
(1) 
Ordered quarantine of an animal shall be made by the Animal Control Officer, Health Director or Sanitary Inspector.
(2) 
The Animal Control Officer shall enforce the confinement of the quarantined animal.
(3) 
The Animal Control Officer shall issue the release of the quarantined animal.
(4) 
The Animal Control Officer shall be empowered to issue summonses for unvaccinated cats.
E. 
Interfering with persons performing duties under this section. No person shall hinder, molest or interfere with anyone authorized or empowered to perform any duty under this section.
F. 
Violations and penalties.
(1) 
Any person who violates or who fails or refuses to comply with any subsection of this section shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than $50, nor more than $1,000.
(2) 
The continuation of any violation for each successive day shall constitute a separate offense.
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to protect the health, safety and welfare of all those frequenting this Township, by preventing the needless health hazards and nuisances caused by dog feces upon public and private property located within the Township.
B. 
Defecation of private property. No person owning or in charge of any dog shall cause or allow such dog to soil, defile, defecate upon or commit any nuisance upon any private property, without the permission of the owner of the property. Any person owning or in charge of a dog which soils, defiles, defecates or commits any such nuisance shall immediately remove all feces deposited by such dog in a sanitary manner.
C. 
Defecation on public property. No person owning or in charge of any dog shall cause or allow such dog to soil, defile, defecate upon or commit any nuisance on any place where people congregate or walk, or upon any public property. Any person owning or in charge of a dog which soils, defiles, defecates or commits any such nuisance shall immediately remove all feces deposited by such dog in a sanitary manner.
D. 
Defecation on owner's property. No person shall permit the accumulation of dog feces upon his/her property, or property occupied by him/her, to the extent that the odor may be noticeable to any adjoining property owners.
E. 
Disposal of defecation. The feces removed from the aforementioned designated areas shall be disposed of by the person owning or in charge of any such dog in a sealed, nonabsorbent, leakproof container. Disposition in a sanitary manner shall include taking the feces home for deposit, or wrapping the feces and placing same in a trash can. It shall not include burial, disposal by placement in a storm sewer, or placing unwrapped feces in a trash can.
F. 
Defense to violation. It shall be a complete defense to violations of Subsections B, C and D if a person shall have immediately removed such defecation and disposed of it in a sanitary manner.
G. 
Disability assistance dogs. The provisions of this section shall not apply to disabled persons who may use their dogs as guides.
H. 
Complaints of violations. In the event of a violation on private property, a complaint is only to be filed by the owner of such property. In the event of such a violation occurring on public property, thoroughfare, walkways or parks, a complaint may be filed by any witness to such an act.
I. 
Enforcement. The Animal Control Officer, a police officer or Sanitary Inspector may enforce the provisions of this section. A property owner may enforce this section by filing a complaint in Municipal Court.
No person owning, keeping or harboring a dog or cat or any other domestic animal shall permit it to do any injury or to do any damage to any lawn, shrubbery, flowers, grounds or property or a complaint may be made against the owner or keeper of such animal.
[Amended 7-24-2006 by Ord. No. 06-23]
A. 
Any cat with no known owner or custodian shall be considered a public nuisance and shall be subject to Section 148-27B, custody, impounding and disposal of animals if it has no known place of care or shelter; or if it trespasses upon and damages either private or public property; or if it bites, scratches or harms persons within the Township.
B. 
Any cat off the premises of the owner or the person keeping or harboring the cat and constituting a public nuisance as defined in section 148-31A shall be impounded according the Section 148-27C, Custody, impounding and disposal of animals.
C. 
Any cat with a known owner or custodian shall be considered a public nuisance and shall be subject to section 148-27C Custody, impounding and disposal of animals if it trespasses upon and damages either private or public property; or if it bites, scratches or harms persons within the Township
D. 
Any cat with no known owner constituting a public nuisance as defined in Section 148-31A shall be impounded according to Section 148-27B, Custody, impounding and disposal of animals.
Any person who violates any provision of §§ 148-29 through 148-31 may, upon conviction thereof, be subject to the penalties set forth in Chapter 1, Article II, § 1-19, Violations and penalties. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation of §§ 148-29 through 148-31 occurs of continues.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Fees and costs charged by the Township and authorized by the Code of the Township of Vernon, as amended, are hereby established and shall be imposed in such amounts as provided by Chapter 250, Fees and Escrows, Article II.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).