[Adopted 4-15-1991 by Ord. No. 91-1]
The purpose of this article is to respond to the growing epidemic of rabies within the State of New Jersey and to meet such epidemic for the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Borough of Dunellen by establishing an ordinance for the licensing and control of cats in the Borough of Dunellen.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITY
Any person or agency designated or certified by the Sate of New Jersey or the licensing authority to enforce the provisions of this article.
AUTHORIZED AGENT
Includes the Health Officer, Animal Control Officer contracted by the Borough of Dunellen (Plainfield Humane Society) or a police officer of the Borough of Dunellen.
CAT
Any animal of the domestic feline species, male, female or neutered.
CAT OF LICENSING AGE
Any cat which has attained the age of seven months or which possesses a set of permanent teeth.
LICENSING AUTHORITY
The Municipal Clerk's office of the Borough of Dunellen or any designated representative charged with administering this article and/or issuing or revoking licenses under the provision of this article.
OWNER
When applied to the proprietorship of a cat, includes every person having a right of property or custody of 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. The owner of the cat shall be considered the initial owner of its kittens. A person who continually feeds a stray animal shall be considered the owner.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, partnership or organization, or institution commonly recognized by law as a unit.
A. 
Abandonment. No person shall abandon any cat within the Borough no matter what its age or condition.
B. 
Vaccination and licensing requirements. No person shall own, keep, harbor or maintain any cat over seven months of age within the Borough of Dunellen unless the cat is vaccinated and licensed. Exclusions from the requirement for licensing are set forth in Subsection E of this section.
C. 
Vaccination. All cats seven months of age or older 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. Newly acquired cats of licensing age must be vaccinated within 10 days of acquisition and before a permit or license will be issued. Exemptions from the requirement for vaccination are set forth in Subsection F of this section.
D. 
Vaccination certificate. A certificate of vaccination shall be issued to the owner of each animal vaccinated, on a form recommended by the state and consistent with the Borough of Dunellen requirements.
E. 
Exclusions. The foregoing licensing requirements do not apply to cats held by a state or federal licensed research facility or a veterinarian establishment where cats are received or kept for diagnostic, medical, surgical or other treatments, or licensed animal shelters, pounds, kennels or pet shops.
F. 
Exemptions. Any cat may be exempted from the requirements of vaccination for a special period of time by the Dunellen County Health Officer or its authorized agent upon representation of a veterinarian's certificate stating that because of an infirmity or other physical condition, regimen or therapy, the inoculation for the cat is deemed inadvisable.
A. 
Owners must obtain license number. Any person who owns, keeps or harbors a cat of licensing age must annually apply for and procure from the licensing authority an official registration tag with license number, for each cat so owned, kept or harbored. The owner shall prove licensure of any such cat by producing the registration tag upon the request of the licensing authority, its authorized representatives or a police officer. Licenses are not transferable.
[Amended 2-6-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-03]
B. 
Time to apply for license. Cat licenses shall be acquired between May 1 and May 31 of each year. The owner of any newly acquired cat of licensing age, or any cat which attains licensing age, must purchase a license within 10 days of such acquisition or age attainment, except as set forth in § 103-31E of this article, entitled "Exclusions." This requirement will not apply to a nonresident keeping a cat in the Borough of Dunellen for less than 90 days.
C. 
Cats brought into jurisdiction.
(1) 
Any person who brings or causes to be brought into the Borough of Dunellen any cat of licensing age for the Borough of Dunellen, licensed in another state for the current year and bearing a registration tag, and keeps the same or permits same to be kept within the Borough of Dunellen for a period of more than 90 days, shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag for such cat.
(2) 
Any person who brings or causes to be brought into the Borough any unlicensed cat of licensing age, and keeps same or permits same to be kept within the Borough for a period of more than 10 days, shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag for each such cat.
D. 
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 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 licensing authority.
E. 
License forms and tags. License forms and official tags shall be furnished by the licensing authority and shall be numbered serially and shall bear the year of issuance and the name of the municipality.
F. 
Evidence of inoculation with rabies vaccine or certification of exemption, requirement for license. The Municipal Clerk for the Borough of Dunellen or other person designated by the licensing authority to license cats shall not grant a license for any cat, unless the person provides a written proof that the cat to be licensed 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 Human Services or has been certified exempt as provided by § 103-31F of this article. The rabies inoculation shall be administered by a duly licensed veterinarian.
G. 
License fee schedule. A license shall be issued after payment of a fee of $13 for each unneutered, and $10 for each neutered cat. Persons who fail to obtain a license as required within the time period specified (month of May) will be subject to a delinquent fee of $5 per month, in addition to the regular license fee.
[Amended 4-7-2008 by Ord. No. 08-10]
H. 
Fees renewals, expiration date of license. The person applying for the license and registration tag shall pay the fee fixed or authorized. The fee for the renewal of license and registration tag shall be the same as for the original and the license and registration tag or renewal thereof shall expire on May 1 of the following year.
I. 
Loss of license. If a license registration has been misplaced or lost the Clerk of the Borough of Dunellen or other person designated by the licensing authority may issue a duplicate license for that particular cat at a fee of $2.
J. 
Proof of licensing. Proof of licensing shall be produced by any person owning, keeping, maintaining or harboring a cat upon the request of any authorized agent of the Borough of Dunellen, Sanitarian, Health Officer, authorized agent of the Dunellen County Health Officer or a police officer.
K. 
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.
L. 
Disposition of fees collected. License fees and other moneys collected or received under the provisions of this article shall be forwarded to the Borough of Dunellen under the provisions of this article and shall be placed in the animal account which is separate from any of the other accounts of the municipality and shall be used for the following purposes only: collecting, keeping, and disposing of animals liable to seizure for local control of rabies, and for administering the provision of this article. Any unexpended balance remaining in such special account shall be retained until the end of the third fiscal year following and may be used for any of the purposes set forth in this section. At the end of the said third fiscal year following, there shall be transferred from such special account to the general funds of the municipality amounts in excess of the amounts anticipated by the County Health Officer to be necessary for such purpose for the next fiscal year.
A. 
An authorized agent or the police may take the following cats into custody and impound and later destroy them, release them to the owner or offer them for adoption provided within this section:
(1) 
Any cat which is required to be licensed and for which the owner does not produce a current registration.
(2) 
Any cat which is suspected to be a stray, abandoned, diseased, injured or to have bitten a person or other animal pursuant to N.J.S.A. 26:4-82.
B. 
If any cat is taken into custody which is wearing a registration tag, or whose owner is known, as a first step, an authorized agent will attempt to contact the owner who shall claim the animal. If the cat is not claimed by the owner or contact cannot be made with the owner within 24 hours of seizure, a notice in writing will be sent to the owner stating that the cat has been seized and will be liable to be offered for adoption or destroyed if not claimed within seven days after the service of the notice.
C. 
A notice under Subsection B of this section may be served either by delivering it to the person to whom it is to be served, or by leaving it at the person's usual or last known place of residence given when the cat was registered or by forwarding it by post in a prepaid letter addressed to that person at his usual or last known place of residence.
D. 
Any person authorized by the Dunellen County Health Officer may cause an animal to be offered for adoption or destroyed in a manner causing as little pain as possible and consistent with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:22-19, seven days after seizure, provided that:
(1) 
The cat was not wearing a valid registration tag at the time of seizure and the owner is unknown; or
(2) 
A notice was issued as required by Subsection B of this section and the cat was not claimed; or
(3) 
The owner or person keeping or harboring a cat which was unlicensed at the time of seizure does not within a reasonable period of time produce a valid license and registration tag for the cat.
E. 
Whether or not the cat is claimed, the owner is responsible for:
(1) 
All maintenance charges for the cat.
(2) 
All expenses involved in euthanizing and preparing the cat for submission to the authorities in Trenton.
F. 
No cat caught and impounded shall be sold or otherwise made available for the purposes of experimentation.
G. 
After observation, any cat impounded under this section suspected of being rabid shall be immediately reported to the County Health Officer representing the Borough of Dunellen.
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 not to exceed $500 to be recovered by and in the name of the Borough of Dunellen County Health Officer or by and in the name of the Borough of Dunellen.