Definitions. The following words and terms shall have the meanings
herein indicated for purposes of this section.
ABANDONED CAT
A domesticated cat or free-roaming cat whose owner or caregiver
has either forsaken it entirely, has neglected or refused to provide
it care and support, or has otherwise relinquished title in or a claim
to the domesticated or stray cat and has turned it out into the wild.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
A person employed or appointed by the Borough who is authorized
to investigate violations of laws and regulations concerning animals,
and to issue citations in accordance with New Jersey law and this
Code.
CAT
Any member of the domestic feline species felis catus.
COLONY CAT
Any cat associated with or living in a feral cat colony.
DOMESTICATED CAT
A cat that has an owner and which is typically not off the
property of the owner, not outside the residence of the owner, is
under the physical control and restraint of the owner and is regularly
provided with food by its owner.
EARMARKED
A tagged, notched or tipped left ear as performed by a licensed
veterinarian.
FERAL CAT
A wild or stray cat that is not owned or a cat that has no
identifiable owner and which is unsocialized to humans and has a permanent
temperament of extreme fear of and resistance to contact with humans.
FERAL CAT CAREGIVER
Any person who cares for feral cats and/or provides food,
care and/or shelter for feral cats and is willing to comply with the
responsibilities and requirements set forth in this MOU.
FERAL CAT COLONY
A group of cats that congregate, more or less, together as
a unit. Although not every cat in a colony may be feral, any nonferal
cats that congregate with a colony shall be deemed to be a part of
it.
FREE-ROAMING CAT
A cat that has an owner but which frequently roams outdoors,
is regularly off the property of the owner, is not under the physical
control and restraint of the owner but is regularly provided with
food by its owner.
MANAGED CAT COLONY
Spaying and neutering the cats to stabilize the population
of the feral cat colony.
NUISANCE
For purposes of this section, means disturbing the peace
by a) habitually or continually howling, crying or screaming or b)
the habitual and significant destruction, desecration or soiling of
property against the wishes of the owner of the property.
OWNER
For purposes of this section, means any person, firm, corporation,
partnership, association, trust, estate, or any other legal entity
possessing, maintaining, housing, or harboring any cat or otherwise
having a right of property in the cat.
RESCUE GROUP
A for-profit or not-for-profit entity, or a collaboration
of individuals with at least one of its purposes being the adoption
or placement of cats in homes with humans to serve as companion animals.
SPONSOR OF THE TNVR PROGRAM
A duly authorized animal shelter or organization under the
authority of New Jersey State law Title 4, and having such authority
within the County of Middlesex, and the Borough of Spotswood, which
shall be as designated by the Mayor from time to time.
STRAY CAT
A cat that has an owner but which frequently roams outdoors,
is regularly off the property of the owner, is not under the physical
control and restraint of the owner and is not regularly provided with
food by its owner.
SUITABLE SHELTER
Shelter that provides protection from rain, sun, and other
elements that is adequate to protect the health of the cat.
TNVR
Trap, neuter, vaccinate and return.
TNVR PROGRAM
A program pursuant to which feral and stray cats are trapped,
identified, neutered or spayed, vaccinated against rabies and returned
to the location where they were trapped.
ZOONOTIC DISEASE
Those diseases transmittable to humans from animals, including
parasitic, bacterial, fungal and viral diseases, including but not
limited to zoonotic influenza; salmonellosis; West Nile virus; plague;
rabies; brucellosis; Lyme disease.