The purpose of this article is to establish a trap, neuter,
vaccinate and release (TNVR) program for the Township of Parsippany-Troy
Hills for the purpose of reducing the population of feral and free-roaming
cats, benefitting public health, improving the quality of life for
residents, and ensuring the humane treatment of community cats.
For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall
have the meaning set forth in this section.
COMMUNITY CAT
Any free-roaming, feral, or barn cat that may be cared for
by one or more residents of the immediate area and which has no discernible
form of ownership identification.
COMMUNITY CAT CAREGIVER
A person who may provide care, including food, water, shelter
or medical care to a community cat.
EAR TIPPING
The removal of the 1/4 inch tip of community cat's left ear,
performed while the cat is under anesthesia by a licensed veterinarian
and designed to be an indication that the community cat has been sterilized
and vaccinated for rabies.
FERAL CAT
A cat that is born in the wild or is the offspring of an
owned or feral cat and is not socialized or is a formerly owned cat
that has been abandoned and is no longer socialized.
FERAL COMMUNITY CAT COLONY
A group of cats that congregate together outside as a unit.
Although not every cat in a colony may be feral, any nonferal cats
who congregate with a colony shall be deemed part of it.
NUISANCE
Disturbing the peace by:
A.
Habitually howling, squawking or causing other objectionable
noise resulting in a serious annoyance to a reasonable person; or
B.
Habitually or repeatedly destroying, desecrating or soiling
public or private property.
TNVR PROGRAM
A program pursuant to which feral and stray cats are trapped,
neutered or spayed, vaccinated against rabies, microchipped, and returned
to the location where they congregate.
Feral cat colonies shall be permitted, and caregivers shall
be entitled to maintain them in accordance with the terms and conditions
of this article.
The Township shall have the following rights:
A. The right to remove or authorize the removal of any cat from a colony
which has not been vaccinated against rabies and which demonstrates
signs of the disease or because of immediate public health or safety
concerns.
B. The right to remove or authorize the removal of any cat from a colony
which is visibly injured or diseased and appears to be suffering and
remains untreated. If it reasonably appears that such cat cannot be
expeditiously cured and returned to the field, transferred to a humane
society or private animal nonprofit organization or placed in foster
care, the cat may be humanely euthanized upon the advice of a licensed
veterinarian.
C. The right to remove or authorize the removal of any cat from a colony which is creating a nuisance as defined herein in accordance with §
91-34 herein.
D. The right to remove and authorize the removal of a colony of cats
when the caregiver regularly fails to comply with the requirements
of this article.
The Animal Control Officer is hereby authorized and directed
to adopt and enforce any necessary rules and regulations to implement
the Township TNVR program.