[Adopted 12-5-1972 by Ord. No. 18-72 (Ch. 51, Part 1, Art.
II, of the 1972 Code)]
[Added 10-3-1983 by Ord. No. 50-83]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
Any person designated by the governing body as a law enforcement
officer and who qualifies to perform such duties under the laws of
the State of New Jersey.
[Amended 9-11-2007 by Ord. No. 31-07]
DOG
Any member of the species generally referred to as canis
familiaris, irrespective of age, sex or breed.
DOG OF LICENSING AGE
Any dog which has attained the age of seven months or which
possesses a set of permanent teeth.
OVERBURDEN
The chains on an animal shall not weigh more than 1/5 of
the total weight of the animal.
[Added 6-10-2008 by Ord. No. 21-08]
OWNER
Any person, partnership or corporation owning, keeping or
harboring one or more animals. An animal shall be deemed to be harbored
if it is fed or sheltered for three consecutive days or more.
PERSON
An individual, partnership, company or corporation.
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG
Any dog or dog hybrid declared potentially dangerous by a
municipal court pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-23.
[Added 1-23-1998 by Ord. No. 3-98]
PROPER SHELTER
A structure fully enclosed on three sides. The fourth wall
shall have an entranceway large enough to allow the animal to enter
and exit comfortably, but not too large so as to allow all heat to
escape. It shall be roofed and have a solid floor. The shelter shall
be small enough to retain the animal's body heat, and large enough
for the animal to stand and turn around. The shelter and enclosure
shall be sturdy and structurally sound and in good repair. Bedding
in the structure shall be clean and dry. The area around the shelter
shall be clear of debris.
[Added 6-10-2008 by Ord. No. 21-08]
RESTRAINT
Any animal secured by a leash or lead, or under the control
of a responsible person and obedient to that person's command within
the real property limits of its owner.
VICIOUS DOG
Any dog or dog hybrid declared vicious by a municipal court
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-22.
[Amended 1-26-1998 by Ord. No. 3-98]
[Amended 10-3-1983 by Ord. No. 50-83]
All dogs shall be kept under restraint, and no dogs shall run
at large at any time in this municipality.
[Amended 5-26-2015 by Ord. No. 16-15]
A. Leashed dogs are permitted in any Township park, or hiking trail,
as long as such dog is accompanied by a person over the age of 12
years that is of sufficient strength to hold the dog, is controlled
by an adequate leash not to exceed six feet in length, and remains
on the leash at all times.
B. No person owning, keeping, or harboring any dog shall suffer or permit
such dog to be upon sports fields, playground areas, or buildings.
C. Unleashed dogs are not permitted upon the public streets or in any
of the public places of the Township of Jackson, except:
(1) In accordance with the rules and regulations governing Township dog park facilities at Johnson Park and Gil Putnam Memorial Park, which rules and regulations will be available for the public at the Township Clerk’s office. See §
304-19; or
[Amended 10-27-2020 by Ord. No. 20-20]
(2) When the dog is on enclosed property with the consent of the owner,
lessee, or other person with legal control of the property; or
(3) When the dog is assisting a peace officer who is engaged in law enforcement
duties; or
(4) When the dog is a service animal, guide dog, or Seeing Eye dog used
by a visually or mobility-impaired individual; or
(5) When the dog is assisting a duly authorized person in an official
search and rescue operation; or
(6) When the dog is participating in a law enforcement exercise or law
enforcement training authorized by the Jackson Township Chief of Police;
or
(7) When the dog is in a designated off-leash area as designated by the
Township Council pursuant to resolution or when the dog and the dog
owner are in compliance with a park use permit issued by the Jackson
Township Department of Recreation for training, exhibition, or competition.
The permit must be displayed, on request of any Township employee,
to establish the dog owner's compliance with the permit.
Any dog while engaged in hunting or training for hunting shall
be in the immediate control, custody and management of its owner or
custodian.
[Amended 9-11-2007 by Ord. No. 31-07]
No owner of any animal shall suffer or permit such animal to
be upon any private property other than the premises of the owner
without consent of the owner or tenant of said property.
No person shall keep, harbor or maintain any dog which habitually
barks or cries between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
[Amended 9-11-2007 by Ord. No. 31-07]
Owner or custodian of any animal shall be responsible for the
damages done or caused by such animal.
The Township of Jackson may designate such time or times of
the year during which dogs outside the premises occupied by the owner
of such dog shall be muzzled, such designation to be by publication
at least three times in a newspaper in which legal notices of the
Township may be published, and after such publication, no person owning,
keeping or harboring a dog shall permit it upon public highways, public
places or outside of the premises occupied by the owner, during the
period designated, unless such dog wears a muzzle securely fastened
over its jaws in such a manner that it cannot bite.
[Amended 10-3-1983 by Ord. No. 50-83; 1-26-1998 by Ord. No.
3-98]
Notwithstanding anything set forth in Chapter
98 of the Code of the Township of Jackson, any dog or dog hybrid declared vicious by a municipal court pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-20 shall be dealt with in accordance with state statutes or requirements. All provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:19-17 et seq. imposing a uniform set of state requirements for the owners of vicious or potentially dangerous dogs and amendments to said statutes are hereby adopted by the Township of Jackson. This includes, but is not limited to, the requirement for municipal court hearings and the holding of said hearings in a manner as set forth in said state statutes. Additionally, any required fees and costs concerning the impoundment and destruction of a dog or dog hybrid shall be established by the Jackson Township Code.
[Added 10-3-1983 by Ord. No. 50-83]
A. Any resident who shall own, keep or harbor a dog of licensing age
shall, in the month of January of each year, apply for and procure
from the Township Clerk, or other official designated by the governing
body thereof to license dogs in the municipality, a license and official
registration tag for each such dog so owned, kept or harbored and
shall place upon each such dog a collar or harness with the registration
tag fastened thereon. The fee set by the municipality shall not be
in excess of the maximum established by state law. Failure of the
owner to obtain a license within the time prescribed by ordinance
shall be subject to a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $50,
in the discretion of the Judge. Each day's failure to obtain a license
will be considered a separate violation.
B. Fee for potentially dangerous dog license. There is hereby established
an annual fee for a potentially dangerous dog license or for renewal
thereof which shall be established at the sum of $500 per annum. All
other requirements of the aforesaid state statute concerning potentially
dangerous dogs shall be complied with by the owner of said animal,
or said owner may be considered in violation of Ordinance No. 3-98. Said conditions of licensing shall include all those required
under N.J.S.A. 4:19-24.
[Added 1-26-1998 by Ord. No. 3-98]
[Added 10-3-1983 by Ord. No. 50-83]
Every female dog in heat shall be confined in a building or
secure enclosure in such manner that such female dog cannot come into
contact with another dog except for planned breeding.
[Added 10-3-1983 by Ord. No. 50-83]
No owner shall fail to exercise proper control of his dog to
prevent it from becoming a public nuisance. Excessive, continuous
or untimely barking, molesting passersby, chasing vehicles, habitually
attacking other domestic animals, trespassing upon school grounds
or trespassing upon private or public property shall be deemed a nuisance.
[Added 10-3-1983 by Ord. No. 50-83; amended 6-10-2008 by Ord. No.
21-08]
No owner shall fail to provide any animal in his or her control
with sufficient good and wholesome food and water, proper shelter
and protection from the weather, veterinary care when needed to prevent
suffering, and with humane care and treatment. No person shall beat,
cruelly ill-treat, torment, overload, overwork, overburden and otherwise
abuse any animal or cause or permit any animals to combat between
themselves, nor shall any owner abandon such animal.
[Added 10-3-1983 by Ord. No. 50-83]
No person shall give away any animal as a prize for, or as an
inducement to enter any contest, game or other competition, or as
an inducement to enter a place of amusement or offer such animal as
an incentive to enter into any business agreement whereby the offer
was for the purpose of attracting trade.
[Added 10-3-1983 by Ord. No. 50-83]
Any animal which bites a person shall be quarantined on the
premises of its owner under the supervision of the authority designated
by the municipality for the period of time ordered by said authority.
The animal shall be securely confined and kept from contact with any
other animal during quarantine. The designated authority may require,
at its discretion, special confinement and order the animal surrendered
to the animal shelter or veterinary hospital at the owner's expense.
[Added 10-3-1983 by Ord. No. 50-83; amended 5-22-2007 by Ord. No.
14-07]
No police officer or other person shall kill or cause to be
killed, any animal suspected of being rabid, except after the animal
has been placed in quarantine and the diagnosis of rabies is made
by a licensed veterinarian. If a veterinarian diagnoses rabies in
an animal in quarantine, then the animal shall be humanely killed
and the head of such animal sent to a laboratory for pathological
examination and confirmation of the diagnosis. The cost pertaining
to diagnosis, pathological examination and confirmation shall be paid
by the owner.
[Amended 10-3-1983 by Ord. No. 50-83; 9-11-2007 by Ord. No. 31-07]
Any person, whether as owner or custodian of a dog, convicted
of a violation of any of the provisions of this article shall, upon
conviction of the provisions hereof, be subject to a fine or penalty
not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days
or a period of community service not exceeding 60 days, or all, at
the discretion of the Judge before whom such conviction is had. In
addition to or in lieu of impounding a dog found at large, the Animal
Control Officer may issue to the known owner of such dog a summons
for violation of this article.