[1982 Code § 44-1]
As used in this chapter:
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
Shall mean the person holding the position of Animal Control
Officer in the Borough and any deputy, assistant or helper of such
officer and any person or persons designated from time to time as
Acting Animal Control Officer.
AT LARGE
Shall mean off the premises of the owner and not under the
control of the owner and not under the control of a member of his
immediate family either by leash, cord or chain or otherwise, as in
the case of obedience-trained dogs.
BITE
Shall mean to seize with the teeth or jaws so as to enter,
nip or grip the person or thing seized; also to cut, wound, pierce
or to impress deeply the person or thing seized.
CAT
Shall mean any member of the domestic feline species; male,
female or altered.
CAT OF LICENSING AGE
Shall mean any act which has attained the age of seven months,
or which possesses a set of permanent teeth.
CATTERY
Shall mean any room or group of rooms, cage, or exhibition
pen, not part of a kennel, wherein cats for sale are kept or displayed.
DOG
Shall mean any dog, bitch or spayed bitch.
DOG OF LICENSING AGE
Shall mean any dog which has attained the age of seven months
or which possesses a set of permanent teeth.
NEUTERED
Shall mean rendered permanently incapable of reproduction
as certified by a licensed veterinarian.
OWNER
Shall mean and include, when applied to the proprietorship
of a dog or cat, every person having a right of property in such dog
or cat and every person who has such dog, cat or other animal in his
keeping. A person shall be deemed to have a dog or cat in his keeping
whenever the ownership or custody of any dog or cat is in an unemancipated
infant or other member of his household.
OWNER'S PREMISES
Shall mean and include the building and the plot of land
on which the building stands, in which the owner of a dog or cat has
a place of abode or place of business in the Borough.
VICIOUS DOG
Shall mean any dog, as defined in this subsection, which
attacks and bites or attempts to attack and bite persons or dogs or
other animals without being incited to do so or which has shown such
savagery, fierceness or ferocity as to indicate that it is a threat
to the safety of persons.
[1982 Code § 44-5; New]
No person shall keep or harbor or suffer the keeping or harboring
within the limits of the Borough any dog or cat without first obtaining
a license therefor, to be issued by the Borough Clerk of the Borough
upon application by the owner or some person on behalf of the owner
and payment of the prescribed fee, and no person shall keep or harbor
any dog or cat in the Borough except in compliance with the provisions
of this section and the provisions for the control of dogs or cats
contained in N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.1 et seq. and any amendments thereof.
[1982 Code § 44-6; New]
Any person who shall own, keep or harbor or suffer the keeping
or harboring of any dog or cat of licensing age within the Borough
shall, in the month of January and annually thereafter, apply for
and procure from the Borough Clerk 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 securely
fastened thereto.
[1982 Code § 44-7; Ord. No. 399; Ord. No. 418; Ord. No. 433; Ord. No.
633, § III]
a. Licensing Fee for Dogs. The person applying for the license and registration
tag shall pay an annual fee in accordance with a fee schedule established
by resolution of the Borough Council for dogs of reproductive age;
these fees shall by resolution of the Borough Council be apportioned
among the Borough of Frenchtown for the Dog Damage Trust Account,
New Jersey Department of Health for rabies control pursuant to the
provisions contained in N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.1 et seq. and the New Jersey
Department of Health for the Pilot Spay Neutering Clinic pursuant
to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.5; and an additional fee be
established by resolution of the Borough Council for nonspayed or
nonneutered dogs to be sent to the New Jersey Department of Health
for Animal Population Control pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A.
4:19-15.5. For each annual renewal, the fee for the license and for
the registration tag shall be the same as for the original license,
and the license registration tags and renewals thereof shall expire
on the last day of January in each year. Any dog owner or person harboring
a dog or found to have an unlicensed dog by the Borough's Animal
Control Officer or any other official shall be required to pay after
February 1 an additional delinquent fee of $5 per month, plus the
required license fee as with any other fines due to a summons issued
that may be imposed on them as provided in this section for failure
to obtain a dog license before February 1.
b. License Fee for Cats. The fee for licensing under this section shall
be such fee as is established from time to time by resolution of the
Frenchtown Borough Council. Any cat owner or person harboring a cat
or found to have an unlicensed cat by the Borough's Animal Control
Officer or any other official shall be required to pay after February
1 an additional delinquent fee of $5 per month, plus the required
license fee as with any other fines due to a summons issued that may
be imposed on them as provided in this section for failure to obtain
a cat license before February 1.
c. Any dog or cat owner found to have an unlicensed dog or cat as of
March 31st will be issued a summons for failure to obtain a dog or
cat license as required by the Borough code.
[1982 Code § 44-8]
The aforementioned fee shall not apply to dogs which have been
acquired by the owner after February 1. The owner, however, must present
sufficient proof to establish that the dog was acquired after February
1. Dogs used as guides for blind persons and commonly known as "Seeing
Eye" dogs shall be licensed and registered as other dogs hereinabove
provided for, except that the owner or keeper of such dog shall not
be required to pay any fee therefor. The owner of any newly acquired
dog of licensing age shall make application for such license and registration
tag for such dog within 10 days after such acquisition or age attainment.
[1982 Code § 44-4]
No person shall keep within any residential zone of the Borough
any dog causing a nuisance and disturbing the peace and quiet of the
neighborhood in which it shall be kept.
[1982 Code § 44-9]
No owner of any dog shall suffer or permit such dog, whether
running at large or upon a leash, chain or lead, to be upon any private
property other than the premises of the owner without consent of the
owner or attendant of the private property. No dogs will be allowed
to run at large off the property of the owner of such dog.
[1982 Code § 44-3]
No person shall keep within the limits of the Borough any vicious
dog. Any vicious dog found within the limits of the Borough may be
seized by any Police Officer or by the Animal Control Officer and
shall be impounded as hereinafter specified; provided, however, that
if any dangerous, fierce or vicious dog is found at large and cannot
be seized, taken up and impounded, such dog may be slain by any Police
Officer.
[1982 Code § 44-2]
The position of Animal Control Officer is hereby established
under the direct control and supervision of the Mayor and Borough
Council. The duties of the Animal Control Officer shall be enforcement
of the measures and provisions that control dogs contained in N.J.S.A.
4:19-1 et seq. and any amendments thereof and the provisions of this
chapter.
[1982 Code § 44-11]
It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer to apprehend and take into custody and impound or cause to be taken into custody and impounded any vicious dog or any dog found running at large contrary to the provisions of subsection
5-1.7 and to impound such dog in the municipal pound or other suitable place. A complete registry of all such dogs so seized shall be made, which shall include the breed, color and sex of such dog and whether licensed. If licensed, the name and address of the owner and the number of the license tag shall be recorded.
[1982 Code § 44-12]
If any dog seized or impounded in accordance with the provisions
of this section shall wear a collar or harness having inscribed thereon
or attached thereto the name and address of any person or a registration
tag or the owner or person keeping or harboring the dog is known,
the Animal Control Officer shall forthwith serve upon the person whose
address is given on the collar or the owner or person keeping or harboring
the dog, if known, notice in writing stating that the 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.
[1982 Code § 44-14]
No person shall hurt, molest or interfere with anyone authorized
or empowered to perform any duty under this chapter.
[Ord. No. 473 § 45-4]
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any person who
violates, or who fails, or refuses to comply with this chapter, shall
be liable to a penalty of not more than $500 for each offense, to
be recovered by and in the name of the local Board of Health, or by
and in the name of the Borough of Frenchtown.