[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
Words and phrases as used in this article shall have the following
meanings respectively ascribed to them in N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.1 et seq.
The following additional definitions shall also apply:
A person appointed by the Town who is certified as an Animal
Control Officer by the State of New Jersey. The Animal Control Officer
shall be vested with the powers and authorities set forth in N.J.S.A.
4:19-15.16(c).
Any dog or dog hybrid of either sex whether spayed or neutered.
Any dog which has attained the age of seven months or which
possesses a set of permanent teeth.
Any person exercising control over a dog or permitting a
dog to remain on the premises under his or her control.
Any male dog rendered permanently incapable of reproduction
as certified in writing by a licensed veterinarian.
When applied to proprietorship of a dog, includes every person
having right of property in such dog in his keeping.
Any dog or dog hybrid declared potentially dangerous by the
Municipal Court pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-23.
Any female dog rendered permanently incapable of reproduction
as certified in writing by a licensed veterinarian.
Any dog of licensing age without a current registration tag,
visible tattoo or identification marking approved by the Animal Control
Officer or a collar or harness inscribed thereon or attached thereto
the name and address of the owner.
Any dog or dog hybrid declared vicious by the Municipal Court
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-22.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
a.
In accordance with and pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.1 et seq., a
valid license and registration tag from the Department of Code Enforcement,
Division of Health shall be required for:
[Ord. No. O-3-2015; Ord. No. O-1-2018 § 1]
a.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.4, the owner of any newly-acquired dog
of licensing age or of any dog which attains licensing age, shall
make an application with the Department of Code Enforcement, Division
of Health for a license and registration tag within 10 days after
such acquisition or age attainment.
b.
Any person residing in the Town of Morristown who owns and keeps
a dog with a valid license and registration tag from another municipality
in the State of New Jersey shall upon expiration of said license make
an application for a dog license and registration tag with the Department
of Code Enforcement, Division of Health.
c.
Applications for a dog license shall be made on forms promulgated
by the Department of Code Enforcement, Division of Health.
d.
A one year license or registration tag shall be granted if:
1.
The dog owner provides evidence that the dog to be licensed and registered
has been inoculated by a licensed veterinarian with a rabies vaccine
of a type approved by and administered in accordance with the recommendations
of the United States Department of Agriculture; and
2.
The dog owner provides evidence that the dog to be licensed and registered
has been inoculated against rabies with a vaccine having duration
of immunity for at least 10 of the 12 months of the licensing year.
e.
A three-year license or registration tag shall be granted if:
1.
The dog owner provides evidence that the dog to be licensed and registered
has been inoculated by a licensed veterinarian with a rabies vaccine
of a type approved by and administered in accordance with the recommendations
of the United States Department of Agriculture; and
2.
The dog owner provides evidence that the dog to be licensed and registered
has been inoculated against rabies with a vaccine having duration
of immunity for three years, provided that for the third and last
licensing year, duration of immunity shall at minimum be for 10 months
of the 12 months of the licensing year.
f.
An exemption to the rabies inoculation requirement shall be granted
for any dog that a duly licensed veterinarian certifies in writing
to be incapable of being inoculated because of an infirmity, other
physical condition, or regimen of therapy.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015; Ord. No. O-1-2018 § 2]
a.
Dog licenses and corresponding registration tags issued under the
provisions of the Article shall be valid for a period of 12 months
or three years commencing on July 1 and ending on June 30 of the following
year.
b.
Dog license fees shall be as follows:
|
Type
|
Fee
|
|---|---|
|
1 year license neutered or spayed
|
$10
|
|
1 year license not neutered or spayed
|
$20
|
|
3 year license neutered or spayed
|
$25
|
|
3 year license not neutered or spayed
|
$35
|
c.
For dog licenses requiring renewal, applications shall be submitted
prior to expiration on June 30. A late fee of $5 per month shall be
assessed for each dog license application received after July 1.
d.
Dogs used as guides for blind persons and commonly known as "seeing
eye" dogs shall be licensed in the same manner as other dogs, except
that the owner or keeper shall not be required to pay any fee.
e.
Dogs used as guides for deaf persons and commonly known as "hearing
ear" dogs shall be licensed in the same manner as other dogs, except
that the owner or keeper shall not be required to pay any fee.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
Proof of licensing shall be produced by any person owning, keeping,
maintaining or harboring a dog upon request of any health official,
Police Officer or Animal Control Officer of the Town of Morristown.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
License fees and other monies collected or received under the
provisions of this article shall be forwarded to the Town Treasurer
within 30 days after collection or receipt and shall be placed in
a special account separate from any of the other accounts of the Town
and shall be used for the following purposes only: collecting, keeping
and disposing of dogs liable to seizure under this article; for prevention
and control of rabies; domestic animal control; providing anti-rabies
treatment under the direction of the Town Health Officer for any indigent
person known or suspected to have been exposed to rabies; and for
administering the provisions of this article. Any unexpended balance
remaining in such special account shall be retained until the end
of the third fiscal year following and may be used for any purposes
set forth in this article. At the end of the third fiscal year following
and at the end of each fiscal year thereafter, there shall be transferred
from such special account to the general funds of the Town any amount
then in such account which is in excess of the total amount paid into
the special account during the last two fiscal years next preceding.
[Added 9-26-2023 by Ord. No. O-28-2023]
If a license tag has been lost, the Licensing Bureau may issue
a replacement license tag for that particular dog at the fee of $5
to cover the cost of replacement.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
The Animal Control Officer shall take into custody and impound
any of the following dogs:
a.
Any dog off the premises of the owner or the person charged with
the care of the dog which is reasonably believed to be a stray dog;
b.
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;
c.
Any female dog in season off the premises of the owner or the person
charged with the care of the dog;
d.
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 the 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.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
a.
If a dog taken into custody and impounded pursuant to Subsection 5-2.1 of this article 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 dog, or the owner or the person charged with the care of the dog is otherwise known, the Animal Control Officer shall ascertain the name and address of the owner or the person charged with the care of the dog, and serve to the identified person as soon as practicable, a notice in writing that the dog has been seized and will be liable to be offered for adoption or euthanized if not claimed within seven days after the service of notice.
b.
The notice required pursuant to this section shall be served using
one or more of the following methods:
1.
By delivering it directly to the person on whom it is to be served;
2.
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
3.
By mailing the notice to the person at the person's last known place
of residence or to the address given on the collar, harness, or microchip
identification.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
Any Animal Control Officer authorized or empowered to perform
any duty under this article is hereby authorized to go upon any premises
to seize for impounding any dog which may be lawfully seized and impounded
when such Animal Control Officer is in immediate pursuit of such dog,
except upon the premises of the owner of the dog if the owner is present
and forbids same.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
When any dog so seized has not been claimed by the person owning, keeping, or harboring such dog within seven days after notice or within seven days of the dog's impoundment when notice has not been or cannot be given as set forth in Subsection 5-2.2, the Animal Control Officer and/or the shelter, pound, or facility which received the dog shall be authorized and empowered to offer the unclaimed dog for adoption, to euthanize the dog, to relocate the dog, or sterilize the dog in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:19-15-16.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
a.
If the owner or the person who seeks to claim a dog seized and impounded
pursuant to the provisions of this section, shall provide proof of
ownership, which may include a dog license, registration, rabies inoculation
certificate, or documentation from a veterinarian that the dog has
received regular care from the veterinarian.
b.
The following fees shall be charged to the person reclaiming a dog
impounded pursuant to the provisions of this article:
|
Type
|
Fee
| |
|---|---|---|
|
1.
|
Reclamation Fee
|
$50 per dog reclaimed
|
|
2.
|
Boarding Fee
|
$4 for each day the dog was impounded
|
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
No person shall own, keep or harbor a dog in the Town except
in compliance with the provisions of this article.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
All dogs required by the provisions of this article to be licensed
shall wear a collar or harness with the registration tag for such
dog securely fastened thereto.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
No person, except an officer in the performance of his duties,
shall remove a registration tag from the collar of any dog without
the consent of the owner, nor shall any person attach a registration
tag to a dog for which it was not issued.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
Proof of licensing shall be produced by any person owning, keeping,
maintaining or harboring a dog upon request of any health official,
Police Officer or Animal Control Officer.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
No person shall hinder, molest or interfere with anyone authorized
or empowered to perform any duty under this article.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
No person shall own, keep, harbor or maintain any dog which
habitually barks or cries to the annoyance or disturbance of residents
of the Town.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
No person owning, keeping or harboring any dog shall suffer
or permit it to run at large upon the public streets or in any public
park, public building or other public place within the Town.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
No person owning, keeping or harboring any dog shall suffer
or permit it to be upon the public streets or in any of the public
places of the Town unless:
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
No person owning, keeping or harboring a dog shall permit it
to do any injury or to do any damage to any lawn, shrubbery, flowers,
grounds or property.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
It shall be unlawful for any dog, whether licensed or not, to
run at large within the Town. A dog shall be deemed to be "running
at large" when off the premises of its owner or of the person keeping
or harboring such dog, which is not on a leash, tether, chain, rope
or the like, the overall length of which, including the hand grip,
shall not exceed six feet, held by its owner or other person able
to control such dog.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
No person shall hinder, molest or interfere with anyone authorized
or empowered to perform any duty under this article.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
Every person owning, keeping or harboring or in control of a
dog shall be responsible to immediately pick up, remove, and dispose
of in a sanitary manner approved by the Department of Code Enforcement,
Division of Health all feces deposited by said dog on any sidewalk,
passageway, bypath, play area, park or upon any public property whatsoever
or upon any private property.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
The owner of a dog declared potentially dangerous by the Municipal
Court in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:19-24 shall
be required to make an application for and obtain a potentially dangerous
dog license and red-colored registration tag from the Department of
Code Enforcement, Division of Health.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
An impounded dog which has been declared potentially dangerous
shall not be released to its owner until a potentially dangerous dog
license and red-colored registration tag has been obtained by the
owner for such a dog.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
a.
A potentially dangerous dog license shall not be issued or renewed
until the owner has complied with the order issued by the Municipal
Court including conditions specified in N.J.S.A. 4:19-24(a)2 through
(a)3 and N.J.S.A. 4:19-24(b).
b.
No license or registration tag shall be granted unless:
1.
The dog owner provides evidence that the dog to be licensed has been
inoculated by a licensed veterinarian with a rabies vaccine of a type
approved by and administered in accordance with the recommendations
of the United States Department of Agriculture; and
2.
The dog owner provides evidence that the dog to be licensed and registered
has been inoculated against rabies with a vaccine having duration
of immunity for at least 10 of the 12 months of the licensing year.
c.
An exemption to the rabies inoculation requirement shall be granted
for any dog that a duly licensed veterinarian certifies in writing
to be incapable of being inoculated because of an infirmity, other
physical condition, or regimen of therapy.
[Ord. No. O-3-2015]
a.
Potentially dangerous dog licenses and corresponding registration
tags issued under the provisions of the section shall be valid for
12 months commencing on July 1 and ending on June 30 of the following
year.
b.
Potentially dangerous dog license fees shall be as follows:
|
Type
|
Fee
| |
|---|---|---|
|
1.
|
Neutered or spayed
|
$150
|
|
2.
|
Unneutered or spayed
|
$200
|
c.
For dog licenses requiring renewal, applications shall be submitted
prior to expiration on June 30. A late fee of $5 per month shall be
assessed for each dog license application received after July 1.
