[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.
[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.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original §§ 51-19, Dogs causing nuisances or disturbing the peace, and 51-20, Construal, of the 1972 Code, which immediately followed this section, were repealed 10-3-1983 by Ord. No. 50-83.
[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.[1] 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]
[1]
Editor's Note: See also §§ 98-8 and 98-16.
[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.