[Adopted 2-14-1990 by Ord. No. 893 as Sec. 9-1 of the 1988 Code]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DOG
Any male or female dog, bitch or spayed bitch.
DOG OF LICENSING AGE
Any dog which has attained the age of seven months or which possesses a set of permanent teeth.
OWNER
Every person having a right of property in a dog and every person who harbors or has such dog in his keeping.[1]
RUNNING AT LARGE
A dog off the premises of the person owning or keeping or harboring it and:
A. 
Not in a crate or other safe control; or
B. 
Not securely fastened to a tether, leash or chain held by its owner or other person capable of controlling the dog.
[1]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "pound," which immediately followed, was repealed 4-21-2015 by Ord. No. 1623.
[Amended 11-20-2012 by Ord. No. 1558; 5-16-2023 by Ord. No. 1909; 10-15-2024 by Ord. No. 1965]
A. 
No person shall own, keep or harbor any dog within the Borough except in compliance with the provisions of this article and unless he first obtains a license and official metal registration tag therefor issued by the Borough upon application by the owner and payment of the prescribed fee.
B. 
Any person that shall fail to comply with the licensing provisions of this article shall, upon conviction, be subject to a $100 fine.
[Amended 11-20-2012 by Ord. No. 1558; 8-20-2013 by Ord. No. 1573]
Any person who shall own, keep or harbor a dog of licensing age in the Borough shall, in the month of March, apply for and procure from the Borough a license and official metal registration tag for each such dog so owned, kept or harbored, which license shall be valid for a one- or three-year period. Each such dog shall have a collar or harness with the registration tag securely fastened thereto.
The owner of any newly acquired dog of licensing age or of any dog which attains licensing age shall apply for a license and registration tag for such dog within 10 days after such acquisition or age attainment.
A. 
Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Borough any dog licensed in another state for the current year bearing a registration tag, and shall keep the same or permit the same to be kept within the Borough for a period of more than 90 days, shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag for each such dog.
B. 
Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Borough any unlicensed dog and shall keep the same or permit the same to be kept within the Borough for a period of more than 10 days shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag for each such dog.
[Amended 12-18-2007 by Ord. No. 1394; 12-21-2010 by Ord. No. 1508; 11-20-2012 by Ord. No. 1558; 8-20-2013 by Ord. No. 1573; 4-21-2015 by Ord. No. 1623; 6-15-2021 by Ord. No. 1840; 3-4-2025 by Ord. No. 1976]
A. 
The person applying for the license and registration tag may apply for a one-year license or a three-year license and shall pay to the Borough a fee as follows:
(1) 
For a one-year license, $14 for any dog of reproductive age which has not had its reproductive capacity permanently altered through sterilization, and $11 for all other dogs. A one-year license shall expire on the last day of March of the year following its issuance.
(2) 
For a three-year license, $42 for any dog of reproductive age which has not had its reproductive capacity permanently altered through sterilization, and $33 for all other dogs. A three-year license shall expire on the last day of March of the third year following its issuance.
B. 
Proof of sterilization shall be provided by a certificate executed by a doctor of veterinary medicine. In the absence of this certificate, it shall be assumed that the dog has not been sterilized and is of reproductive age.
C. 
Persons who fail to obtain a license on or before the last day of March shall pay a late payment fee of $15.
D. 
Dogs used as guides for blind persons, and commonly known as "seeing eye" dogs, dogs used to assist handicapped persons and commonly known as "service dogs," or dogs used to assist deaf persons and commonly known as "hearing ear" dogs shall be licensed and registered as other dogs as hereinabove provided for, except that the owner or keeper of such dog shall not be required to pay any fee therefor.
[Amended 11-20-2012 by Ord. No. 1558]
License forms and uniform official metal registration tags designed by the State Department of Health shall be furnished by the Borough and shall be numbered serially and shall bear the year of issuance and the name of the Borough.
[Amended 11-20-2012 by Ord. No. 1558; 3-4-2025 by Ord. No. 1976]
The application shall state the breed, sex, age, color and markings of the dog for which the license and registration are sought, and whether it is of a long-haired or short-haired variety; and the name, street and post office address of the owner and the person who shall keep or harbor such dog. The information on the application and the registration number issued for the dog shall be preserved by the Borough as required by law. In addition, the Borough shall forward to the State Department of Health each month, on forms furnished by the Department, an accurate account of registration numbers issued or otherwise disposed of. Registration numbers shall be issued in the order of the application.
[Amended 5-11-2005 by Ord. No. 1318; 9-16-2008 by Ord. No. 1432; 5-16-2023 by Ord. No. 1909; 10-15-2024 by Ord. No. 1965]
A. 
No person shall suffer any licensed or unlicensed dog to run at large upon any of the streets or public places of the Borough or upon the property of any other person, without consent.
B. 
No person shall allow a licensed or unlicensed dog to be present within any fenced-in playground or recreation area, including but not limited to the municipal tennis courts, or any area utilized as a playground for small children where the ground is covered with wood chips or other soft landing surface. Playground area, as utilized herein, shall include an area for small children which may contain swings, seesaws, or any similar type of playground equipment.
C. 
No person shall allow a licensed or unlicensed dog on any of the Borough’s playing fields. Playing fields, as utilized herein, shall include fields owned by the Borough and utilized by the Borough for its recreation programs such as baseball, softball, football, soccer and lacrosse.
D. 
Any person that violates the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, be subject to a $100 fine.
[Amended 4-21-2015 by Ord. No. 1623]
A. 
The certified animal control officer shall take into custody and impound any animal, to thereafter be euthanized or offered for adoption, as provided in this section:
(1) 
Any dog off the premises of the owner or of the person charged with the care of the dog, which is reasonably believed to be a stray dog;
(2) 
Any dog off the premises of the owner or the person charged with the care of the dog without a current registration tag on its collar or elsewhere;
(3) 
Any female dog in season off the premises of the owner or the person charged with the care of the dog;
(4) 
Any dog or other animal which is suspected to be rabid; or
(5) 
Any dog or other animal off the premises of the owner or the person charged with its care that is reported to, or observed by, a certified animal control officer to be ill, injured, or creating a threat to public health, safety, or welfare, or otherwise interfering with the enjoyment of property.
B. 
If an animal taken into custody and impounded pursuant to Subsection A of this section has a collar or harness with identification of the name and address of any person, or has a registration tag, or has a microchip with an identification number that can be traced to the owner or person charged with the care of the animal, or the owner or the person charged with the care of the animal is otherwise known, the certified animal control officer shall ascertain the name and address of the owner or the person charged with the care of the animal, and serve to the identified person as soon as practicable a notice, in writing, that the animal has been seized and will be liable to be offered for adoption or euthanized if not claimed within seven days after the service of the notice.
C. 
A notice required pursuant to this section may be served:
(1) 
By delivering it to the person on whom it is to be served, or by leaving it at the person's usual or last known place of residence or the address given on the collar, harness, or microchip identification; or
(2) 
By mailing the notice to that person at the person's usual or last known place of residence, or to the address given on the collar, harness or microchip identification.
D. 
A shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound receiving an animal from a certified animal control officer pursuant to Subsection A of this section, or from any other individual, group, or organization, shall comply with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16.
Any officer or agent authorized or empowered to perform any duty under this article is authorized to seize for impounding any dog or dogs which he may lawfully seize and impound when he is in immediate pursuit of such dog or dogs, except upon the premises of the owner of the dog if the owner is present and forbids the same.
[Amended by Ord. No. 1056]
Where a dog has been declared potentially dangerous or vicious, the following shall apply:
A. 
The owner of said dog shall pay to the municipality in addition to the normal licensing fee an annual fee in the amount of $700.
B. 
If a dog is declared vicious or potentially dangerous and all appeals pertaining thereto have been exhausted, the owner of the dog be liable and shall pay to the Borough all costs and expenses of impounding and/or destroying the dog. Said cost and expenses shall be in the amount of $50 per day or the actual cost where the dog is impounded in a private facility and the actual cost of destroying the dog.
[Added 12-18-2018 by Ord. No. 1769]
A. 
The following rules and regulations shall govern the use of the Old Mill Woodlands Dog Park:
(1) 
Dogs that bark persistently must be removed from the premises.
(2) 
Dogs must never be left unattended or allowed out of sight.
(3) 
Dogs must wear a current New Jersey dog license tag.
(4) 
Owners must clean up after their dogs.
(5) 
Dogs showing aggression towards people or other animals will be removed from the park.
(6) 
Animals who have a history of aggressive behavior will not be permitted to enter.
(7) 
Puppies must be at least four months old.
(8) 
Young children must be supervised.
(9) 
Owners must carry a leash at all times. Dogs should be leashed before entering and prior to leaving the park.
(10) 
Violators will be subject to removal from the park and suspension of park privileges.
(11) 
No smoking, food, or alcohol is permitted within the park.
(12) 
The dog park shall be open from dawn to dusk.
[Added 12-21-2021 by Ord. No. 1864]
B. 
Violations and penalties. A violation of any of these rules and regulations, either by an owner, dog handler or dog, may result in the loss or suspension of dog park privileges, and a fine of not to exceed $1,000.