[Added 4-9-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-6]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
Any person or agency designated by the Borough or authorized by law to enforce the provisions of this article.
CAT
Any member of the domestic feline species, male, female or neutered.
CAT OF LICENSING AGE
Any cat which has attained the age of four months or which possesses a set of permanent teeth.
LICENSING AUTHORITY
The Clerk of the Borough of Netcong or any persons designated by the Borough Administrator charged with administering the issuance and 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, includes 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.
VACCINATION
Inoculation against rabies performed by a licensed veterinarian or such other person permitted by law to do the same under the supervision of a 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.
VETERINARIAN
Any person licensed to practice veterinary medicine by any state of the United States.
A. 
Vaccination and license requirements. No person shall be the owner of a cat of licensing age within the Borough of Netcong unless such cat is licensed and has a vaccination that was administered within the last 365 days or for which a valid vaccination certificate indicates an expiration date occurring in the future. The provisions of this section do not apply to cats held in a veterinary establishment where cats are received or kept for diagnostic medical, surgical or other treatments.
B. 
Vaccination certificate. A certificate of vaccination shall be issued to the owner of each cat which has been administered a vaccination in a form recommended by the state.
C. 
Exemptions. Any cat may be exempted from the requirements of such vaccination for a specified period of time by the Borough of Netcong 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 vaccination of such cat shall be deemed inadvisable.
A. 
License and compliance required. No person shall keep or harbor any cat within the Borough of Netcong in the County of Morris without first obtaining a license therefor, to be issued by the Clerk of the Borough upon application by the owner and payment of the prescribed fee, and no person shall keep or harbor any cat in said Borough except in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
Procurement of license. Any person who shall own, keep or harbor a cat of licensing age shall in the month of January of each year apply for and procure from the Clerk of the Borough a license. The owner of any newly acquired cat of licensing age or of any cat that attains licensing age shall make application for a license 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 Borough of Netcong for no longer than 30 days. All licenses shall expire on December 31, and license fees shall not be prorated.
C. 
License number displayed. Cats must have a license number displayed. The license number shall be displayed on any licensed cat. Acceptable methods of displaying the license number shall include, but are not limited to, an official license tag or sleeve securely affixed to a breakaway or elastic collar. License tags or sleeves are not transferable. If a cat is tattooed with the owner's social security number plus a letter uniquely identifying such cat and such identifying tattoo is listed on the license application and vaccine certificate, then no license number need be displayed.
D. 
Application contents; preservation of information. The application shall state the breed, sex, age, color and markings of the cat for which a license is sought and whether it is of a long- or short-haired variety; the date on which such cat was last vaccinated against rabies and the expiration date of such vaccination if it is greater than one year from the vaccination date; the name, street, post office address and telephone number of the owner or the person who shall keep or harbor such cat; and any tattoo which shall be used to uniquely identify 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 Borough Clerk or other official designated to license cats.
E. 
License forms and official tags or sleeves shall be furnished by the Borough and shall be numbered serially and shall bear the year of issuance and the name of the Borough.
F. 
Evidence of rabies vaccination or certification of exemption; requirement for license. The Borough Clerk or other official designated by the Borough Administrator to license cats shall not grant any such license for any cat unless the owner thereof provides evidence that the cat to be licensed has been vaccinated or has been certified exempt as provided by § 105-31 of this article.
G. 
License fee schedule. A license shall be issued after payment of a fee in the amount of $12 per year. Any person who shall own, keep or harbor an unlicensed cat of licensing age after the last day of January of the year in which the license and registration tag expire shall be required to pay a delinquent licensing fee of $5 for each license applied for. In the event that a license is not applied for by March 1, an additional delinquent fee of $1 per month, per license, shall be added until the license(s) is obtained. Said delinquent fees shall be in addition to the regular license fee as provided for herein. The payment of the delinquent licensing fee shall not, in any manner, relieve the person from liability for prosecution for violation of this chapter before the Municipal Court.
H. 
Proof of licensing. Proof of licensing shall be produced by any owner of a cat upon the request of any health official, police officer, or animal control officer.
I. 
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.
J. 
Sick or diseased cats. Management of domestic animals known or suspected to have been bitten by a known or suspected rabid animal of unknown origin shall be quarantined in accordance with Title 26 of the New Jersey Statutes Annotated. The owner of a cat evidencing a change in disposition or illness suggesting it may be rabid may be required to have such cat examined by an approved veterinarian. Any cost incurred in quarantining such cat or veterinary service examination shall be paid for by the owner or harborer of such cat or cats.
Any person who violates or refuses to comply with any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 or by imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.