[Adopted 10-23-2006 by Ord. No. 113]
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
STRAY ANIMAL
Includes any dog or cat that is not licensed to a Paramus resident pursuant to the Code of the Borough of Paramus, Chapter
169, and kept and maintained on the resident's property.
WILD ANIMAL
Includes but not limited to pigeons, waterfowl, raccoons,
skunks or groundhogs.
Any person that shall violate any of the provisions
of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, for each offense,
pay a penalty of not more than $1,000 for the first offense, and a
penalty of not more than $2,000 for second and subsequent offenses,
or imprisonment or community service for a period not exceeding 90
days.
[Adopted 11-22-2012 by Ord. No. 127]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated
ANIMAL
Any domesticated living creature, including any stray or
feral cat or dog, and a wild living creature previously captured.
The term does not include an uncaptured wild living creature or a
livestock animal.
IMPOUNDED
Any animal which is received into custody by the Paramus
Animal Shelter, housed at the shelter or another location designated
by the shelter.
OWNER
Any person, group of persons, firm, partnership, corporation,
organization, or association owning, keeping, having charge of, sheltering,
feeding, harboring or boarding any animal for a fee. The owner is
responsible for the care, actions and behavior of his animal(s).
It shall be considered cruel treatment to allow a dog, cat or
other domesticated pet to be left outside in inclement weather or
extreme temperatures without adequate shelter.
A person may not keep an animal in a motor vehicle in a manner
in which the animal's health or life is endangered by high temperature
(above 80 degrees F), or low temperature (below 40 degrees F).
A. After making a reasonable effort to find the driver of a vehicle
in which an animal is confined, the Animal Control Officer, at the
direction of a law enforcement officer, may use the least intrusive
means to break and enter the vehicle, including the breaking of a
window or lock, if necessary, to remove the animal where reasonable
cause exists to believe that the animal is in violation of this section.
B. The Animal Control Officer removing the animal shall then impound
the animal and leave a written notice in a prominent place on the
motor vehicle as to the animal's impoundment, a brief description
of the animal, and where and when the animal may be reclaimed. The
Animal Control Officer who removes an animal from a vehicle in accordance
with this section shall not be liable for damage caused to the vehicle
and/or property contained therein.
It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer to seize
and impound, subject to the provisions of this article, all animals
found in violation of the provisions of this article whether such
animal shall be in the immediate custody of its owner or otherwise.
All public parking lots to include malls, shopping centers,
parks or any other commercial entity shall post notices of this article.
Any person violating the provisions of this article shall be
subject to the following civil penalty and actions. No penalty shall
be assessed without notice of the violation.
A. The Borough shall assess a civil penalty of $125 for a first offense,
$250 for a second offense, and $350 for all subsequent offenses, which
amount(s) may be recovered by the Borough. The Borough may, in its
discretion, additionally seek restitution for the actual cost of maintaining,
transporting, boarding, or providing veterinarian services for any
animal impounded under this article.