As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Any live vertebrate creature including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, but not humans.
A person 18 years of age or older who has satisfactorily completed the course of study approved by the Commissioner of Health of the State of New Jersey and the Police Training Commission as prescribed by Paragraphs (1) through (3) of Subsection a of Section 3 of P.L. 1983, c. 525 (N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16a), or who has been employed in the State of New Jersey in the capacity of, and with similar responsibilities to those required of, a certified animal control officer pursuant to the provisions of New Jersey P.L. 1983, c. 525, for a period of three years before January 17, 1987.
An individual or group of individuals who, with or without salary or compensation, house, provide necessary medical care for and feed homeless or unlicensed animals in a home or facility, with the intent of placing the animals in permanent homes as soon as one becomes available.
The home or facility in which an animal rescue organization houses and cares for an animal.
Any establishment where cats or other animals are received, housed and adopted out, but not a pet store.
When an animal is off the property of its owner and has entered the property of another person without that owner's authorization, or has entered onto public property, street or right-of-way, unless restrained by its owner, or a caretaker, with a leash of no less than six feet in length, or other physical control device, such that the animal is under the physical control of the owner or caretaker. Nothing in this definition is intended to prevent dogs from being on training leashes or retractable leashes or engaging in other appropriate activities under adequate, responsible adult supervision where care is taken to assure control as needed to prevent violations of this article.
A member of the species Felis catus.
Any cat, which is not a community cat, reaching the age of seven months or, if age cannot be determined, a cat which possesses a set of permanent adult teeth.
Any free-roaming cat, which may or may not be feral, with a caretaker known or unknown. Community cats shall be distinguished from other cats through their ear-tip and sterilization. These cats are exempt from licensing, stray and at large provisions of this article.
Any person who, in accordance with a community cat management/TNR program, will work to trap, sterilize, vaccinate for rabies, ear-tip then return free-roaming cats or feral cats to the area in which they were trapped. A caregiver shall not be considered an owner of a community cat. A caregiver shall not possess, keep or harbor a community cat.
A single community cat or a group of community cats that congregate together outside as a unit. Any nonferal cat(s) that congregate with a colony shall be deemed part of it.
Any person, known or unknown, who engages in trapping, neutering and returning (TNR) a community cat to a colony. Management of the colony shall include, but not be limited to, trapping, sterilizing, vaccinating, ear-tipping, and returning a community cat to its colony of origin from which it was trapped. Managing shall also include providing adequate food, water, medical care and shelter for the cats within the colony being managed. Assuming temporary custody of any cat within the colony from time to time may also be necessary to provide adequate care.
The straight-line cutting of the tip of one ear of a cat while the cat is anesthetized for spay and neuter. The left ear is the universally accepted practice, although in the past a cat's right ear may have been tipped.
An unsocialized undomesticated cat with a temperament of extreme fear and resistance to contact with humans. Feral cats are considered community cats. Feral cats are typically born in the wild, or are the unsocialized offspring of socialized or feral cats, or were socialized cats who, through abandonment, reverted to an unsocialized state.
Placement of a cat by an animal rescue organization with a caretaker, who may be an individual or group, for the purpose of providing temporary care for a cat, without the caretaker assuming ownership, and with the intent that the caretaker relinquishes the cat to the animal rescue organization or a suitable owner upon one being located. [A foster home may provide care to a cat without the effect of the fostered cat counting toward a municipality's household pet limit (should one exist); however, a foster home must comply with all other provisions of this article.]
The act of caring for and keeping an animal or the act of providing a premises or residence to which the animal returns for food, shelter or care, where the caregiver is providing the primary source of sustenance for the animal for at least 10 days. Community cat caregivers do not harbor community cats for the purposes of this article, but are subject to the provisions of the article pertaining to community cats.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
An electronic identification device inserted into an animal, typically on the back between the shoulder blades, by a veterinarian in accordance with professional medical standards.
To have a licensed veterinarian surgically sterilize the animal.
Disturbing the peace by:
Habitual or continuous howling, crying or screaming; or
The habitual and significant destruction, desecration or soiling of property against the wishes of the property owner creating conditions leading to the excessive breeding of fleas or flies, odors or noises; or
Habitually trespassing upon public or private grounds.
For the purpose of this article, "habitually" means occurring on at least two separate occasions within a time period of one month; except that "howling, crying or screaming habitually" means making the sound persistently or continuously for at least 30 minutes occurring at least three separate times within a period of eight hours. For the purposes of this article, "persistently" or "continuously" shall mean nonstop utterances for 30 consecutive minutes with interruption of less than 30 seconds at a time.
Any person, household, firm, corporation, or other organization which, except a foster home, possesses a legal title to, a property interest in, or permanent custody of any animal regulated by this article. A person must be age 18 or older to be considered the legal owner of an animal. If a person under age 18 is considered the custodian or caretaker of the animal, the parent or legal guardian shall be considered the legal owner of the animal. A community cat caregiver is not an owner of community cats for the purposes of this article but is subject to the provisions pertaining to community cat caregivers.
Any place of business which is not part of an animal shelter or animal rescue organization facility, wherein animals, including, but not limited to, dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, rabbits, hamsters or gerbils, are kept or displayed chiefly for the purpose of sale to individuals for personal appreciation and companionship rather than for business or research purposes.
Adequate ability to manage the actions of the animal to prevent the animal from engaging in biting, physical aggression towards people or animals, straying, being at large or exhibiting other behaviors regulated by this article or state law.
An establishment for the confinement of dogs, cats or other animals seized or captured by a municipality, ACO or the agent of a municipality under the provisions of this article or otherwise. This term is often applied to a municipal animal control facility or a private or nonprofit animal shelter that contracts with one or more municipalities to hold such animals.
A structure that:
Is sufficiently ventilated and insulated to protect an animal from weather and provide refuge from precipitation, wind, extreme temperature and/or direct sunlight; and
Is fully enclosed with walls on three sides, with a fourth wall having an entranceway large enough to allow the animal to enter and exit comfortably, but not so large as to allow all heat to escape in cold temperatures; and
Has a solid, waterproof roof; and
Has a solid floor that does not sag under the animal's weight; and
Has a door or flap covering the entranceway during temperatures of 40° F. or below; and
Is positioned at a sufficient elevation to prevent water from running into the structure; and
Is small enough to retain the animal's body heat in cold weather and large enough for the animal to stand, turn around and lay down in comfortably; and
Is sturdy, structurally sound and in good repair; and
If it contains bedding, such bedding shall be clean and dry; and
Is surrounded by an area of at least five feet that is clear of debris, feces, and urine.
Any physical injury that results in one or more broken bones or one or more lacerations requiring sutures, or an injury requiring reconstructive or plastic surgery.
Any animal found to be at large, whether lost by its owner or otherwise, or that is on the common areas of apartments, condominiums, trailer parks or other multiresidential premises, and that does not have an identification tag and for which there is no identifiable owner. The term "stray" shall not be applied to community cats managed in accordance with this article.
Access to uncontaminated, palatable food, appropriate for the species of animal, on a regular, ongoing basis in quantities sufficient to maintain a regular body weight as determined by Purina Body Score System or a veterinarian.
Access to clean, potable water on a regular, ongoing basis in quantities sufficient to prevent the animal from experiencing dehydration.
Trap, neuter, return.
A program pursuant to which community feral and stray cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated against rabies, and returned to the location at which they were trapped. A cat may receive a microchip as part of a TNR program.
Any trap used to capture stray cats that is constructed so that it does not harm the animal and that is regularly monitored.
An individual who is licensed to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine in the State of New Jersey.