No person shall own, harbor or keep any dog or cat within the municipal limits of the City of Summit which is not inoculated against rabies; provided, however, that dogs or cats which have not attained the age of six months shall not be required to be inoculated, and further provided that any dog or cat may be exempt from the requirements of such inoculation for a specified period of time by the Board of Health upon the presentation of a certificate from a veterinarian stating that, because of infirmity or other physical condition, the inoculation of such dog or cat for said specified period of time shall be deemed inadvisable by said veterinarian.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Health of the City of Summit as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted as Ch. 2 of the 2008 Code of the Board of Health]
The inoculation against rabies shall be performed each year and shall be performed prior to the procurement of the dog or cat license required by ordinance of the City of Summit, or evidence shall be presented at the time of procurement of the dog or cat license by the dog or cat owner that a three-year inoculation has been performed and that the inoculation has not expired.
A.
It is imperative that the public is protected from the effects of rabies epizootic to the greatest extent technically and economically possible. Wildlife rabies cannot be controlled, but spillover into our domestic animal population is preventable. This article is intended to serve as a means of developing a long-term solution to the rabies problem, as well as implementation of appropriate measures to reduce the problem before demands for solutions and protection overwhelm available resources and capabilities to effectively respond to those demands.
B.
An effective barrier can only be established if both dogs and cats are required to have rabies vaccination. By instituting and maintaining mandatory dog and cat licensing and vaccination, the Board of Health will be able to assess the level of immunity in these species within the City and provide needed resources to meet the rabies challenge.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
The Chief of Police, or Animal Control Officer, Health Officer or other person designated by the Health Office, or any official, police officer or other person designated by the Chief of Police.
The agency of the City of Summit ("City") charged with enforcing the requirements of Title 26 of the New Jersey Statutes and created pursuant to § 2-27, Board of Health, of the Revised General Ordinances of the City of Summit.
[Amended at time of adoption of Board of Health codification; see Ch. BH:1, Art. I, Adoption of Code by Board of Health]
Any member of the domestic feline species: male, female or neutered.
Any cat or dog which has attained the age of seven months, or which possesses a set of permanent teeth.
Any room or group of rooms, cage or exhibition pen, not part of a kennel, where cats for sale are kept or displayed.[1]
Any dog, bitch or spayed bitch.
Any establishment wherein or whereon the business of boarding or selling dogs or cats or breeding dogs or cats for sale is carried on, except a pet shop.
The licensing authority is hereby designated as the Board of Health.
The period from June 1 to May 31 of the following year during which time the license required by this article shall be in effect.
Rendered permanently incapable of reproduction as certified by a licensed veterinarian.
Every person having custody of a dog or cat and every person who has such dog or cat in his or her keeping or who harbors or maintains a dog or cat or knowingly permits a dog or cat to remain on or about any premises occupied by that person. The owner of a dog or cat shall be considered the initial owner of its puppies or kittens. A person who continually feeds a stray dog or cat shall also be considered its owner.
Any individual, corporation, partnership, organization or institution.
Any room or group of rooms, cage or exhibition pen, not part of a kennel, wherein dogs, cats or other animals for sale are kept or displayed.
Any establishment for the confinement of dogs or cats seized either under the provisions of this chapter or otherwise.
Any establishment where dogs or cats are received, housed and distributed.
[Amended at time of adoption of Board of Health codification; see Ch. BH:1, Art. I, Adoption of Code by Board of Health]
A.
Vaccination and license requirements. No person shall own, keep, harbor or maintain any dog or cat over seven months old unless it is vaccinated and licensed and except in compliance with the provisions of this article. This section shall not apply to cats held in a cattery, a state or federal research facility, a veterinary establishment where dogs or cats are kept for diagnostic, medical, surgical or other treatments or licensed animal shelters, pounds, kennels or pet shops.
B.
Vaccination. Except as provided in Subsection D, all dogs or cats shall be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian in accordance with the latest Compendium of Animal Rabies Vaccines and Recommendations for Immunization published by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, and with a rabies vaccine of a type approved by and administered in accordance with the recommendations of the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Human Services.
C.
Vaccination certificate. The owner of each dog or cat must, as evidence of such vaccination, produce a certificate of vaccination, which shall be in a form recommended by the state and, if no form is so recommended by the state, in a form approved by the Board of Health. Said vaccination must be current through at least March 31 of the following licensing year.
D.
Exemptions. Any dog or cat may be exempted from the vaccination requirements for a specified period of time by the Board of Health upon presentation of a veterinarian's certificate stating that, because of an infirmity or other physical condition, regimen or therapy, the inoculation of such dog or cat is deemed inadvisable.
A.
License number displayed. Any person who owns, keeps or harbors a dog or cat of licensing age shall annually apply for and procure from the licensing authority through the Health Department, upon payment of the prescribed fee, a license and official registration tag with license number for each dog or cat so owned, kept or harbored and shall place upon such dog or cat a collar or other device with the license number securely fastened or displayed. Acceptable methods of displaying a license number shall include, but are not limited to, breakaway or elastic collars. License tags are not transferable.
B.
Time for applying for license.
(1)
The owner of any dog or cat in the City shall make application for a license renewal thereof on or before May 31 of each year. Only one license and registration tag shall be required in the licensing year for any dog or cat in the City of Summit.
(2)
In the case of dogs or cats that become of licensing age after June 1 but before May 31 of the following year, the owner shall make application for a license tag for such dog or cat within 10 days after acquisition of age attainment.
C.
Dogs or cats brought into jurisdiction.
(1)
Any person who brings into or causes to be brought into the City any dog or cat currently licensed in another municipality in this state through at least May 31 of the current licensing year and providing evidence to the licensing authority through the Health Department of the registration tag shall be permitted to keep said dog or cat within the City through the current licensing year ending May 31 so long as said dog or cat is vaccinated against rabies through March 31. Any person who brings into or causes to be brought into the City any dog or cat currently licensed in another state and bearing a registration tag and shall keep the dog or cat or permit the dog or cat to be kept within the City for a period of more than 90 days shall, within 10 days, apply for a license and registration tag for each such dog or cat.
(2)
Except as provided in Subsection C(1) above, any person who brings into or causes to be brought into the City any unlicensed dog or cat shall not be permitted to keep the same within the City for a period of more than 10 days unless such person shall have applied for a license and registration tag for each such dog or cat within that time period.
D.
Application, contents, preservation of information. The application for a dog or cat license or renewal thereof shall state the breed, sex, age, color and markings of the dog or cat, also the name, street and post office address of the owner and the person who shall keep or harbor such dog or cat. The information on said application and the registration number issued for the dog or cat shall be preserved for a period of three years by the licensing authority.
E.
License forms and tags. License forms and official tags shall be furnished by the licensing authority through the Health Department and shall be numbered serially, and shall bear the year of issuance and the name of the municipality.
F.
Evidence of inoculation. The licensing authority shall not grant a license and official registration tag for any dog or cat unless the owner provides a vaccination certificate pursuant to § BH:2-5C above or the dog or cat has been certified exempt as provided in § BH:2-5D above. The rabies inoculation shall be administered by a duly licensed veterinarian permitted by law to do it.
G.
License fee schedule. Effective June 1, 2008, and for each successive licensing year or portion thereof a payment of $21 for each unneutered dog or cat and $15 for each neutered dog or cat. Persons who fail to obtain a license as required within the time period specified herein shall be subject to a delinquent fee of $10 per pet.[1]
H.
Fees, renewals; expiration date of license. The fee for the renewal of license and registration tag shall be the same as for an original license. Each original license and registration tag and renewal thereof shall expire on the 31st day of May, in the following year.
I.
Loss of license. If a license tag is misplaced or lost, the licensing authority through the Health Department may issue a duplicate license and/or registration tag for that particular license tag at a fee of $10.[2]
J.
Proof of license. Proof of licensing shall be produced by any person owning, keeping, maintaining or harboring a dog or cat, upon request of any health official, police officer, animal control officer or other authorized person.
K.
Interfering with persons. No person shall hinder, molest or interfere with anyone authorized or empowered to perform any duties under this article.
L.
Disposition of fees collected.
(1)
License fees and other moneys collected or received under the provisions of this article shall be forwarded to the Treasurer of the City of Summit and shall be placed in a trust account of the City of Summit and shall be used for the following purposes only:
(a)
Collecting, keeping and disposing of dogs or cats liable to seizure.
(b)
For local prevention and control of rabies.
(c)
Providing anti-rabies treatment under the direction of the Board of Health for any person known or suspected to have been exposed to rabies.
(d)
For administering the provisions of this article.
(2)
Such money shall be used to help defray the costs incurred by a resident of the City to pick up injured, deceased or wild animals that do not belong to them.
A.
An agent designated by the licensing authority may take dogs or cats into custody and impound and later destroy them, release them to the owner, or offer them for adoption, as provided in this section, in the following situations:
B.
If any dog or cat is taken into custody whose owner is known or which is wearing a registration tag, an authorized agent shall attempt to contact the owner. If the dog or cat is not claimed by the owner or contact cannot be made with the owner within 48 hours of seizure, a notice in writing will be sent to the owner stating that the dog or cat has been seized and is subject to being offered for adoption or destroyed if not claimed within seven days after the service of the notice.
[Amended at time of adoption of Board of Health codification; see Ch. BH:1, Art. I, Adoption of Code by Board of Health]
C.
Notice under this section shall be deemed to be effective if served personally, or by leaving it at the person's usual last known place of abode or at the address given in the license application or by mailing to any such address by United States mail, postage prepaid.
D.
An authorized agent of the licensing authority may cause a dog or cat to be offered for adoption or destroyed in a manner causing as little pain as possible and consistent with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:22-19 seven days after seizure, provided that:
[Amended at time of adoption of Board of Health codification; see Ch. BH:1, Art. I, Adoption of Code by Board of Health]
(1)
The dog or cat was not wearing a valid registration tag at the time of seizure and the owner is unknown;
(2)
A notice was served as provided and the dog or cat was not claimed; or
(3)
The owner or person keeping or harboring a dog or cat, which was unlicensed at the time of seizure, does not, within seven days, produce a valid license and registration tag for the dog or cat.
F.
No impounded dog or cat shall be sold or otherwise made available for the purpose of experimentation.
G.
After observation, any impounded dog or cat shall be reported immediately to the Health Officer of the City.
H.
If an owner requests pickup of a dog or cat to be disposed, including any puppies or kittens born to the parent dog or cat, the owner shall be responsible for all expenses in connection with disposal of the unwanted animal(s).
[Amended at time of adoption of Board of Health codification; see Ch. BH:1, Art. I, Adoption of Code by Board of Health]
The City shall enforce the provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:19-17 et seq., regarding potentially dangerous dogs and vicious dogs.
[Amended at time of adoption of Board of Health codification; see Ch. BH:1, Art. I, Adoption of Code by Board of Health]
Any person who violates any portion of this article shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than $5 nor more than $500 for each offense. Each day the violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.