Township of Toms River, NJ Licensing of Cats

The designated agent of the Township of Toms River charged with administering the issuance and/or revocation of permits and licenses under the provisions of this article.

NEUTERED

Rendered permanently incapable of reproduction as certified by a licensed veterinarian.

OWNER

When applied to the proprietorship of a cat, shall include every person having a right of property (or custody) in such cat and every person who has such cat in his/her keeping, or who harbors or maintains a cat or knowingly permits a cat 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.

§ 516-32 Provisions relating to rabies vaccination of cats.

Vaccination and license requirements. No person shall own, keep, harbor or maintain any cat over seven months of age within the Township or Toms River, unless such cat is vaccinated and licensed. The provisions of this section do not apply to cats held in a cattery, or those held by a state or federal licensed research facility, or a veterinary establishment where cats are received or kept for diagnostic, medical, surgical or other treatments, or licensed animal shelters, pounds, kennels or pet shops.

Vaccination. All cats shall be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian in accordance with the latest Compendium of Animal Rabies Vaccines and Recommendations for Immunization, published by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, except as provided for in Subsection D.

Vaccination certificate. A certificate of vaccination shall be issued to the owner of each animal vaccinated on a form recommended by the state.

Exemptions. Any cat may be exempted from the requirements of such vaccination for a specified period of time by the local Board of Health, upon presentation of a veterinarian's certificate stating that, because of an infirmity or other physical condition or regimen of therapy, the inoculation of such cat shall be deemed inadvisable.

§ 516-33 Licensing requirements.

Cats must have license number displayed. Any person who shall own, keep or harbor a cat of licensing age within the Township of Toms River shall annually apply for and procure from the municipal dog licensing agent and/or his/her deputy for the Township of Toms River a license and official registration tag with license number or a registration sleeve for each cat so owned, kept or harbored and shall place upon such cat a collar or other device with the license number securely fastened or displayed thereto. Acceptable methods of displaying license number shall include but are not limited to breakaway or elastic collars. License tags or sleeves are not transferable.

Time for applying for license. The owner of any newly acquired cat of licensing age, or of any cat which attains licensing age, shall make application for a licensed tag or sleeve for such cat within 10 days after such acquisition or age attainment. This requirement will not apply to a nonresident keeping a cat within the Township of Toms River for no longer than 90 days.

Cats brought into jurisdiction. Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Township of Toms River any cat licensed in another state for the current year, and bearing registration tag or sleeve, and shall keep the same or permit the same to be kept within the Township of Toms River for a period of more than 90 days, shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag or sleeve for each such cat. Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Township of Toms River any unlicensed cat, and shall keep same or permit same to be kept within the Township of Toms River for a period of more than 10 days, shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag or sleeve for each such cat.

Application; contents; preservation of information. The application shall state the breed, sex, age, color and markings of the cat for which license and registration are sought, and whether it is of a long- or short-haired variety; also the name, street and post office address of the owner and the person who shall keep or harbor such cat. The information on said application and the registration number issued for the cat shall be preserved for a period of three years by the municipal dog licensing agent and/or his/her deputy.

License forms and tags. License forms and official tags or sleeves shall be furnished by the municipality and shall be numbered serially and shall bear the year of issuance and the name of the municipality.

Evidence of inoculation with rabies vaccine or certification of exemption; requirement for license. The municipal dog licensing agent and/or his/her deputy for the Township of Toms River shall not grant any such license and official registration tag or sleeve for any cat, unless the owner thereof provides evidence that the cat to be licensed and registered has been inoculated with a rabies vaccine of a type approved by and administered in accordance with the recommendations of the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Human Services, or has been certified exempt as provided by § 516-32 of this article. The rabies inoculation shall be administered by a duly licensed veterinarian, or by such other veterinarian permitted by law to do the sage.

License fee schedule. A license shall be issued after payment of a fee of $12 for each unneutered cat and $9 for each neutered cat. Persons who fail to obtain a license as required within the time period specified in this section will be subject to a delinquent fee of $5 for the first 30 days after payment was due and $10 for more than 30 days after payment was due.

[Amended 6-7-1993 by Ord. No. 93-1; 3-27-2007 by Ord. No. 4075-07; 5-22-2007 by Ord. No. 4089-07]

Fees; renewals; expiration date of license. Licenses from another municipality shall be accepted. The person applying for the license and registration tag and/or sleeve shall pay the fee fixed or authorized. The fee for renewal of license and registration tag or sleeve shall be the same as for the original, and said license, registration tag or sleeve and renewal thereof shall expire on July 1 in the following year. Only one license and registration tag or sleeve shall be required in the licensing year for any cat in the Township of Toms River. Any valid New Jersey license tag or sleeve issued by a New Jersey municipality shall be accepted by this municipality as evidence of compliance.

Loss of license. If a license tag or sleeve has been misplaced or lost, the municipal dog licensing agent and/or his/her deputy may issue a duplicate license and/or registration sleeve for that particular cat free of charge.

Proof of licensing. Proof of licensing shall be produced by any person owning, keeping, maintaining or harboring a cat, upon the request of any health official, police officer, animal control officer or other authorized person.

Interfering with persons performing duties under this article. No person shall hinder, molest or interfere with anyone authorized or empowered to perform any duty under this article.

Disposition of fees collected. License fees and other moneys collected or received under the provisions of this article shall be forwarded to the Treasurer of the municipality and shall be placed in the general revenue account of the Township and shall be utilized in such fashion as the governing body of the Township may determine, including but not limited to fulfillment of the purposes of this article in the prevention and control of rabies.

§ 516-34 Violations and penalties.

Except as otherwise provided in this article, any person who violates, or who fails or refuses to comply with, this article shall be liable to a penalty of not less than $50 nor more than $500 for each offense, to be recovered by and in the name of the Board of Health of Toms River Township, or by and in the name of the municipality.