No person shall own, harbor or keep any dog or cat within the
municipal limits of the Town of Westfield which is not inoculated
against rabies; provided, however, that dogs or cats which have not
attained the age of six months shall not be required to be inoculated,
and further provided that any dog or cat may be exempt from the requirements
of such inoculation for a specified period of time by the Board of
Health upon the presentation of a certificate from a veterinarian
stating that, because of infirmity or other physical condition, the
inoculation of such dog or cat for said specified period of time shall
be deemed inadvisable by said veterinarian.
The inoculation against rabies shall be performed each year
and shall be performed prior to the procurement of the dog or cat
license required by Ordinance of the Town of Westfield, or evidence
shall be presented at the time of procurement of the dog or cat license
by the dog or cat owner that a three-year inoculation has been performed
and that the inoculation has not expired.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
BOARD OF HEALTH
The agency of the Town of Westfield ("Town") charged with enforcing the requirements of Title 26 of the New Jersey Statutes and created pursuant to Chapter
17 of the Town Code.
CAT
Any member of the domestic feline species: male, female or
neutered.
CATTERY
Any room or group of rooms, cage or exhibition pen, not part
of a kennel, where cats for sale are kept or displayed.
CONTROL AUTHORITY
Any person or agency designated or certified by the State
of New Jersey to enforce provisions relating to licensing and vaccination
of dogs and cats.
FOSTER PLACEMENT
A temporary placement of less than six months that a domestic
animal resides in while attempting to find a permanent placement.
LICENSING YEAR
The period from January 1 to December 31 of the following
year during which time the license required by this article shall
be in effect.
NEUTERED
Rendered permanently incapable of reproduction as certified
by a licensed veterinarian.
OWNER
Every person having custody of a dog or cat and every person
who has such dog or cat in his or her keeping or who harbors or maintains
a dog or cat or knowingly permits a dog or cat to remain on or about
any premises occupied by that person. The owner of a dog or cat shall
be considered the initial owner of its puppies or kittens. A person
who continually feeds a stray dog or cat shall also be considered
its owner.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, partnership, organization or
institution.
QUARANTINE
A physical separation and confinement of an animal or groups
of animals who are or who may have been exposed to a contagious or
possibly contagious disease and who do not show symptoms of a contagious
disease, from non-quarantined animals or humans, to prevent or limit
the transmission of the disease to non-quarantined animals or humans.
RESIDENCE, MULTI UNIT
A dwelling which is occupied, as a rule, for permanent residence
purposes and which is either sold, rented, leased, let or hired out,
to be occupied as the residence or home with two or more separate
independent units, each of which usually contains sanitary, sleeping,
kitchen and dining facilities, fixed or portable.
RESIDENCE, SINGLE UNIT
One or more rooms comprising living accommodations designed
and used for occupancy with one single housekeeping unit and usually
containing sanitary, sleeping, and kitchen and dining facilities,
fixed or portable, for one such unit.
Any person who violates any portion of this article shall, upon
conviction, be fined not less than $50 nor more than $2,000 for each
offense. Each day the violation continues shall constitute a separate
and distinct offense.