[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of
the City of Rahway as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
[Adopted 7-9-1984 by Ord. No. A-12-84 as
Ch. 93 of the 1984 Code; amended in its entirety 3-13-2017 by Ord. No. O-06-17[1]]
[1]
Editor’s Note: This ordinance also amended the title
of this article, which was formerly Dogs.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
A cat or dog off the premises of the person owning or keeping
or harboring it and not securely fastened to a tether, leash, cord
or chain or the like, not to exceed six feet in length, held by its
owner or other person over the age of 12 years.
Any member of the domestic feline species; male, female or
altered.
Any cat which has attained the age of six months, or which
possesses a set of permanent teeth.
Any male or female dog, bitch or spayed bitch.
Any dog which has attained the age of seven months or which
possesses a set of permanent teeth.
When applied to the proprietorship of a dog, includes every
person having a right of property in such dog and every person who
harbors or has such dog in his keeping.
Any person who shall own, keep or harbor a cat or dog of licensing
age in the City shall, in the month of January in each year, apply
for and procure from the Health Officer a license and official metal
registration tag for each cat and dog so owned, kept or harbored and
shall place upon each such cat or dog a collar or harness with the
registration tag securely fastened thereto.
The owner of any newly acquired cats or dogs of licensing age
or of any cat or dog which attains licensing age shall apply for a
license and registration tag for such cat or dog within 10 days after
such acquisition or licensing age attainment.
A.
Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the City any
cat or dog licensed in another state for the current year and bearing
a registration tag and who shall keep the same or permit the same
to be kept within the City for a period of more than 90 days shall
immediately apply for a license and registration tag for each such
cat or dog.
B.
Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the City any
unlicensed cats or dogs of licensing age and who shall keep the same
or permit the same to be kept within the City for a period of more
than 10 days shall immediately apply for a license and registration
tag for each such cat or dog.
A.
The person applying for the license and registration tag shall pay
to the Health Officer a fee for the licensing of each cat or dog and
the additional sum fixed by state law for the registration of each
cat or dog; and for each annual renewal, the fee for the license and
for the registration tag shall be the same as for the original license
and tag. Said licenses, registration tags and renewals thereof shall
expire on the last day of January of each year.
C.
Dogs used as guides for blind persons and commonly known as "Seeing
Eye" 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.
D.
In an event that the tag shall be lost or destroyed, the Health Department
is authorized to issue a duplicate tag for that particular cat or
dog at a fee of $1.
E.
Any person taking possession or ownership of a cat or dog within
the City of Rahway that fails to obtain a license for said cat or
dog prior to April 1 of the licensing year shall be charged an additional
fee of $2. No such fee shall be required for any newly acquired dog
of licensing age or any dog which attains licensing age (seven months)
when such license is applied for within 10 days of acquisition of
licensing age attainment.
No person, except an officer in the performance of his duties,
shall remove a registration tag from the collar of any cat or dog
without the consent of the owner, nor shall any person attach a registration
tag to a cat or dog for which it was not issued.
No person owning, keeping, harboring or in control of any licensed
or unlicensed dog shall tolerate or permit such dog to run at large
upon any public street, public parks, public buildings or other public
places within the City or on private property of another without the
permission of the owner of said property.
No person shall permit any dog in his care or under his control,
whether or not on a tether, leash, cord or chain or the like, to go
upon the lawn, yard or entrance walk or driveway of any private residence
without the permission of the owner or tenant thereof.
No person owning, keeping or harboring any dog shall tolerate
or permit it to be upon the public streets or in any public place
of the City unless such dog is accompanied by a person over the age
of 12 years and is securely confined and controlled by an adequate
leash not more than six feet long.
No person shall hinder, molest or interfere with anyone authorized
or empowered to perform any duty under this article.
No person shall keep, harbor or maintain outside any cat or
dog which habitually barks, howls, whines or cries between the hours
of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. or which, by frequent barking, howling,
whining or crying, disturbs the peace, comfort or quiet of the neighborhood,
thereby creating or maintaining a nuisance.
No person owning, keeping or harboring a dog shall permit or
tolerate it to cause any injury or to cause any damage to any lawn,
shrubbery, flowers, grounds or property of another.
A.
Any dog which has attacked or bitten any human being or which habitually
attacks other dogs or domestic animals is hereby defined to be a "vicious
dog," for the purposes of this section.
B.
It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police or Acting Chief to receive
and to cause to be investigated complaints against dogs. When any
dog complained against shall be deemed by the Chief of Police or Acting
Chief to be a vicious dog, as herein defined, he shall report the
facts to the Municipal Judge, who shall thereupon cause the owner
or person harboring such dog to be notified, in writing, of the complaint
against such dog and to appear before said Judge at a stated time
and place. The Judge, at the time set for such hearing, shall inquire
into the facts and give all interested persons an opportunity to be
heard, under oath, and to be represented by counsel.
C.
If the Judge shall decide, in accordance with the evidence before him, that such dog complained of is a vicious dog, as defined by this section, notice of such decision shall be given to the owner or person harboring such dog. Thereafter, no such dog determined as aforesaid to be a vicious dog shall be permitted to run at large or be upon any street or public place in the City, except while under a leash, as provided in § 141-10 hereof. The owner or person harboring any such vicious dog who shall tolerate or permit such dog to run at large or be upon any street or public place in the City while not securely muzzled and under leash shall be guilty of a violation of this section.
Any officer or agent authorized or empowered to perform any
duty under this article is hereby authorized to go upon any premises
to seize for impounding any dog or dogs which he may lawfully seize
and impound when such officer is in immediate pursuit of such dog
or dogs, except upon the premises of the owner of the dog if said
owner is present and forbids the same.
The Police Department, pursuant to this article, shall have
the duty of enforcing the provisions of this article and the statutory
provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.1 et seq., subject to the overall jurisdiction
and supervision of the Chief of Police.
The Chief of Police, with the cooperation, aid and assistance
of such other personnel as may be appointed for the purpose by the
Council, shall make the annual canvass of all dogs in the City and
make reports thereof as required by N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.15.
It shall be the duty of the enforcement official to take into
custody and impound or cause to be taken into custody and impounded,
and taken to suitable places determined by the City, the following:
A.
Any cat or dog off the premises of the owner or of the person keeping
or harboring said cat or dog, which cat or dog said enforcement official
or his agents have reason to believe is a stray cat or dog.
B.
Any cat or dog off the premises of the owner or of the person keeping
or harboring said cat or dog without a current registration tag on
its collar.
A.
If any cat or dog, seized as provided in § 141-18, wears a collar or harness having inscribed thereon or attached thereto the name and address of any person or a registration tag or if the owner or the person keeping or harboring said cat or dog is otherwise known, the enforcement official shall forthwith serve or cause to be served on the person whose address is given on the collar or on the owner or the person keeping or harboring said cat or dog, if known, a notice, in writing, stating that the cat or 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.
B.
The notice referred to in Subsection A of this section may be served either 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 at the address given on the collar or by forwarding it by post in a prepaid letter addressed to that person at his usual or last known place of residence or to the address written on the collar.
C.
When any cat or dog seized in accordance with § 141-18 has been detained for seven days after notice when notice can be given as above set forth, or has been detained for seven days after seizure when notice has not been and cannot be given as above set forth, and if the owner or person keeping or harboring said cat or dog has not claimed said cat or dog and paid all expenses incurred by reason of its detention, including maintenance not exceeding $5 per day, and if the cat or dog is unlicensed at the time of the seizure and the person keeping or harboring said cat or dog has not produced a license and registration tag for said cat or dog, the enforcement official may cause the cat or dog to be destroyed in a manner causing as little pain as possible. Any redemption of a cat or dog pursuant to the provisions of this section shall not be deemed to discharge or release the owner thereof from the penalties prescribed in § 141-22 hereof for any violation of this article.
D.
The preceding requirements of Subsections A, B and C of this section shall not be deemed applicable when any cat or dog seized and impounded pursuant to § 141-18 (whether licensed or unlicensed) is, or appears to be, suffering from rabies or is immediately dangerous to the public or has been so badly injured that it cannot be moved or helped by veterinarian care. In such case, the enforcement official or a member of the police force may forthwith cause said cat or dog to be destroyed.
A.
Any person who violates or fails or refuses to comply with § 141-2, 141-3, 141-4, 141-7 or 141-12 or with the rules and regulations promulgated by the State Department of Health governing the sanitary conduct and operation of kennels, pet shops, shelters and pounds to preserve sanitation therein and to prevent the spread of rabies and other diseases of dogs within and from such establishments shall be liable to a penalty of not less than $50 nor more than $500 for each offense, to be recovered by and in the name of the City, except that for the first offense in case of violations of §§ 141-2, 141-3 and 141-4, the penalty shall not be less than $10 nor more than $100, to be recovered in the same manner. A person who refuses or neglects to pay forthwith the amount of a judgment rendered against him and the costs and charges incident thereto shall be committed by the Judge for a period not exceeding 10 days in the case of a first conviction, and in the case of a second, subsequent or continuing violation for a term not exceeding 30 days.
B.
Any person who violates or fails or refuses to comply with § 141-8, 141-9, 141-10, 141-11, 141-13, 141-14, 141-15 or 141-16 shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $300 or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
A.
Purpose. This section establishes requirements for the proper disposal
of pet solid waste in the City of Rahway, so as to protect public
health, safety and welfare, and to prescribe penalties for failure
to comply.
B.
IMMEDIATE
OWNER/KEEPER
PERSON
PET
PET SOLID WASTE
PROPER DISPOSAL
Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following terms,
phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings stated
herein unless their use in the text of this chapter clearly demonstrates
a different meaning. When not inconsistent with the context, words
used in the present tense include the future, words used in the plural
number include the singular number, and words used in the singular
number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory
and not merely directory.
The pet solid waste is removed at once, without delay.
Any person who shall possess, maintain, house or harbor any
pet or otherwise have custody of any pet, whether or not the owner
of such pet.
Any individual, corporation, company, partnership, firm,
association, or political subdivision of this state subject to municipal
jurisdiction.
A domesticated animal (other than a disability assistance
animal) kept for amusement or companionship.
Waste matter expelled from the bowels of the pet; excrement.
Placement in a designated public waste receptacle which is
regularly emptied by the municipality or some other refuse collector;
or discarded in a refuse receptacle owned by the pet owner or disposal
into a system designed to convey domestic sewage for proper treatment
and disposal.
C.
Requirement for disposal. All pet owners and keepers are required
to immediately and properly dispose of their pet's solid waste deposited
on any property, public or private, not owned or possessed by that
person, including, but not limited to, any common thoroughfare, sidewalk,
passageway, bypath, play area, park, school grounds or any space where
the public congregates or walks.
D.
Exemptions. Any owner or keeper who requires the use of a disability
assistance animal shall be exempt from the provisions of this section
while such animal is being used for that purpose.
E.
Enforcement. The provisions of this section shall be enforced by
the Police Department and the Health Department of the City of Rahway.
Said enforcement powers shall not preclude a citizen of the City of
Rahway from filing a complaint directly with the Municipal Court.
F.
Violations and penalties. Any person who is found to be in violation
of the provisions of this section shall be deemed to be in violation
of this section and, upon conviction thereof, shall be liable for
a minimum fine of $50 and a maximum fine not to exceed $1,000, or
imprisonment in the county jail for a term not exceeding 90 days,
or both. Any person, upon conviction of a second offense of this section,
shall be liable for a minimum fine of $250 and a maximum fine not
to exceed $1,000, or imprisonment in the county jail for a term not
exceeding 90 days, or both.
[Adopted 9-10-2001 by Ord. No. O-44-01; amended in its entirety 3-13-2017 by Ord. No. O-06-17]
As used in this article, the following words or phrases shall
have the following meanings:
An animal control center or animal shelter, maintained by
or under contract with any state, county, or municipality, whose mission
and practice is, in whole, or significant part, the rescue and placement
of animals in permanent homes or rescue organizations.
[Added 11-20-2017 by Ord.
No. O-28-17]
Any not-for-profit organization which has tax-exempt status
under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code,
whose mission and practice is, in whole or in significant part, the
rescue and placement of animals in permanent homes.
[Added 11-20-2017 by Ord.
No. O-28-17]
For the purposes of this article, it shall be sufficient
for the enforcement officer to establish that the owner has cared
for or harbored a dog or cat for a period of time in excess of one
month. It shall not be necessary for the enforcement officer to establish
that the care or harbor was continuous or uninterrupted, provided
the enforcement officer has established that the owner has acted to
harbor or care for the dog or cat for a length of time in excess of
one month.
Any species in the genus of canis familiaris or felis catus
which is over the age of seven months.
The Animal Control Officer, any licensed Health Officer,
any police officer or any other person authorized by the laws of the
State of New Jersey to enforce this article.
To sell, offer for sale or adoption, advertise for the sale
of, barter, auction, give away or otherwise dispose of a dog or cat.
[Added 11-20-2017 by Ord.
No. O-28-17]
Any person, corporation, firm or entity owning, keeping,
containing, possessing or maintaining any dog or cat or otherwise
continually harboring or caring for any dog or cat for a period of
time in excess of one month in the City of Rahway.
A retail establishment where dogs and cats are sold, exchanged,
bartered or offered for sale as pet animals to the general public
at retail. Such definition shall not include an animal care facility
or animal rescue organization, as defined herein.
[Added 11-20-2017 by Ord.
No. O-28-17]
Any lot in any block in the City of Rahway which contains
a single-family residential dwelling; any commercial structure; any
business structure; any unit in a townhouse or condominium complex;
any unit in an apartment complex; or any other legally recognized
or de facto apartment/residential rental unit.
No owner may keep, contain, possess, maintain or otherwise continually
harbor or care for more than five dogs or cats, or any combination
thereof, on any property within the City of Rahway. The limitations
herein shall not apply to any pet shop, animal hospital, kennel or
other similarly licensed business establishment.
Notwithstanding the limitation of no more than five dogs or cats set forth in § 141-23, if the enforcement officer determines that a public health nuisance exists due to the giving, exposing, depositing, distributing or scattering of edible material by any person with the intention of feeding, attracting or enticing dogs or cats on private or public property, said person shall be deemed to be in violation of this section and upon conviction shall be liable to the fines and/or penalties specified herein.
[Added 11-20-2017 by Ord.
No. O-28-17]
No pet store shall sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction,
give away, or otherwise transfer or dispose of cats or dogs. Nothing
in this section shall prohibit pet stores from collaborating with
animal care facilities or animal rescue organizations to offer space
for such entities to showcase adoptable dogs and cats.
Any owner found to have violated this article by a court of
competent jurisdiction shall be liable to the fines and/or penalties
as specified in the general penalty section of the Code of the City
of Rahway.
