For the purpose of this article, the following terms shall have
the meaning set forth in this section. When not inconsistent with
the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words
in the plural number include the singular, words in the singular number
include the plural, and words in the male gender include the female
gender.
ABANDONED
An owner or caregiver has forsaken a domesticated cat entirely or has neglected or refused to provide care and support to the cat. No person may desert or abandon any animal at any public or private location. The practice of the TNVR Program and the provision of care to a community cats in accordance with the provisions of this article do not constitute desertion or abandonment of the community cat. However, the placement of a cat at a community cat colony by a person other than the community cat caregiver constitutes abandonment. Any person who is found to be in violation of the provisions of this section shall be subject to penalties as set forth under §
1-11 of the Lumberton Township Code.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
Any person employed or appointed by the Township who is authorized
to investigate violations of laws and regulations concerning animals
and to issue citations in accordance with New Jersey law and this
Code.
CAREGIVER
Any person who provides food, water or shelter to or otherwise
cares for a cat.
COMMUNITY CAT
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.
DOMESTICATED CAT
For purposes of this Chapter, a cat that is socialized to
humans and is appropriate as a companion for humans and is owned and
regularly cared for as pet by an owner.
EARTIPPING
Straight-line cutting of the tip of the left ear of a cat
while the cat is anesthetized.
HARBOR
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, whichever
time is shorter. Community cat caregivers do not harbor community
cats for the purposes of this article, but are subject to the provisions
of the ordinance pertaining to community cats.
MICROCHIP
An electronic identification device inserted into an animal,
typically on the back between the shoulder blades, by a veterinarian
in accordance with professional veterinary standards.
NUISANCE
Community cats shall constitute a public nuisance where said
cats disturb the peace by:
A.
Habitually howls, squawks or causes other objectionable noise
resulting in a serious annoyance to a reasonable person; or
B.
Disturbs the peace by habitually or repeatedly destroying, desecrating
or soiling public or private property.
OWNER
Any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association,
trust, estate or any other legal entity.
RESCUE GROUP
A for-profit or not-for-profit entity or a collaboration
of individuals with at least one of its purposes being the adoption
or placement of cats in homes with humans to serve as companion animals.
STRAY CAT
A cat that is regularly off the property of the owner, is
not under the physical control and restraint of the owner.
SUITABLE SHELTER
Shelter that provides protection from rain, sun and other
elements and that is adequate to protect the health of the cat.
TNR
Trap, neuter and return.
TNVR PROGRAM
A program pursuant to which community cats are trapped, sterilized,
vaccinated against rabies and returned to the location where they
were trapped.
ZOONOTIC DISEASE
Those diseases transmittable to humans from animals, including
parasitic, bacterial, fungal and viral diseases.