[Amended 10-3-1983 by Ord. No. 50-83; 11-27-2000 by Ord. No. 31-00]
A. The position of Animal Control Officer is hereby established as a law enforcement official of the Township. The Animal Control Officer shall be an employee of the Township and subject to the control and direction of the Director of the Department of Public Works. The duties of the Animal Control Officer shall be enforcement of the measures and provisions for the control of dogs contained in N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.1 through 4:19-15.29 and any amendments thereof, and the provisions of this chapter, with the exception of Articles
III and
VI hereof.
B. All Animal Control Officers employed by the Township of Jackson shall
be Certified Animal Control Officers, as defined in N.J.A.C. 8:23A-2.1.
[Added 7-12-2004 by Ord. No. 31-04]
[Added 7-12-2004 by Ord. No. 31-04]
A. A Certified Animal Control Officer of the Township of Jackson who
has been certified as an Animal Cruelty Investigator pursuant to N.J.S.A.
4:19-15.16a et seq. is hereby authorized to investigate and sign complaints,
arrest violators and otherwise act as an officer for detection, apprehension
and arrest of offenders against the animal control, animal welfare
and animal cruelty laws of the State of New Jersey and ordinances
of the Township of Jackson.
B. A Certified Animal Control Officer of the Township of Jackson who
has been certified as an Animal Cruelty Investigator shall have all
the powers and authority set forth in N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16c.
C. A Certified Animal Control Officer of the Township of Jackson who
has been certified as an Animal Cruelty Investigator who signs a complaint,
issues a summons, makes an arrest, or otherwise acts pursuant to his
authority under N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16c shall forward within five business
days a copy of that complaint, summons or arrest warrant or report
to the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
and shall forward a report of any related court action within 30 calendar
days of final disposition.
[Amended 9-11-2007 by Ord. No. 31-07]
The Animal Control Officer of the Township of Jackson, when
in immediate pursuit of a dog or dogs which he may lawfully seize
or impound under the provisions of this article or under the statutes
of the State of New Jersey, is hereby authorized to go upon or enter
into any premises, but not to enter an inhabited dwelling house without
permission of the owner, to seize such dog or dogs for impounding,
and such entry shall not be deemed a trespass, except that he may
not go upon any premises if the owner thereof or the owner's representative
is present and forbids him to do so. A suitable animal pound or equivalent
facilities shall be provided by the Township of Jackson, and it shall
be the duty of the Animal Control Officer to clean and otherwise take
care of said pound or facility and to feed regularly and give other
necessary care to any and all animals impounded therein.
[Amended 9-11-2007 by Ord. No. 31-07]
It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer to apprehend
and take into custody and impound, or cause to be taken into custody
and impounded, any vicious dog or any dog found running at large,
and to impound such dog in the municipal pound or other suitable place.
A complete registry of all such dogs so seized shall be made, which
shall include the breed, color and sex of such dog and whether licensed.
If licensed, the name and address of the owner and the number of the
license tag shall be recorded.
[Amended 9-11-2007 by Ord. No. 31-07]
If any dog seized or impounded in accordance with the provisions
of this article shall wear a collar or harness having inscribed thereon
or attached thereto the name and address of any person or a registration
tag, or the owner or person keeping or harboring said dog is known,
the Animal Control Officer shall forthwith serve upon the person whose
address is given on the collar or the owner or person keeping or harboring
said dog, if known, notice in writing stating that the dog has been
seized and will be liable to be disposed of or destroyed if not claimed
within seven days after the service of the notice.
[Added 10-3-1983 by Ord. No. 50-83; amended 9-11-2007 by Ord. No.
31-07]
Unrestrained dogs may be taken by the Animal Control Officer
and impounded in the animal shelter and there confined in the manner
prescribed in N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.14. Impounded dogs shall be kept for
not less than seven days unless reclaimed by their owners. If, by
a license or by other means, the owner can be identified, the Animal
Control Officer shall, immediately upon impoundment, notify the owner
by telephone or mail of the impoundment of the dog. Dogs not claimed
by their owners within seven days, or placed in suitable new homes,
may be disposed of by methods prescribed as humane by the American
Veterinary Medical Association and the New Jersey Veterinary Medical
Association by the Animal Control Officer or by a representative delegated
by him to exercise that authority.
No person shall hurt, molest or interfere with anyone authorized
or empowered to perform any duty under this article.
Any person violating the provisions of this article shall, upon
conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding $500 or by
imprisonment for any term not exceeding 90 days, or both.