[Adopted 8-13-1957 by Ord. No. 443]
A.
CAT
CAT OF LICENSING AGE
DOG
DOG OF LICENSING AGE
GOVERNING BODY
KENNEL
OWNER
PERSON
PET SHOP
POUND
SHELTER
TOWNSHIP
Definitions. The words hereinafter defined shall have
the meanings herein indicated for the purposes of this article as
follows:
Any cat, male or female or spayed female.
Any cat which has attained the age of seven months.
Any dog, bitch or spayed bitch.
Any dog which has attained the age of seven months or which
possesses a set of permanent teeth.
The Township Council of the Township of Saddle Brook.
Any establishment or premises whereupon or wherein four or
more dogs and cats are kept, maintained or harbored or whereupon or
wherein the business of boarding, selling or breeding dogs and cats
is carried on, except a pet shop.
When applied to the proprietorship of a dog or cat, means
and includes every person having a right of property in such dog or
cat and every person who has such dog or cat in his keeping.
An individual, firm, partnership, corporation or association
of persons.
Any room or group of rooms, cage or exhibition pen, not part
of a kennel, wherein dogs or cats for sale are kept or displayed.
An establishment for the confinement of dogs or cats seized
either under the provisions of this article or otherwise.
Any establishment where dogs and cats are received, housed
and distributed without charge.
The Township of Saddle Brook, in the County of Bergen and
State of New Jersey.
B.
Usage.
(1)
The words "and" and "or" may be used interchangeably
and either of the two may be applicable, whichever is more conducive
toward the effectuating of this article.
(2)
Personal pronouns shall mean either the singular or
the plural, whichever is applicable and conducive toward the effectuating
of this article.
(3)
The masculine, feminine or the neuter gender shall
be implied, whichever is appropriate and conducive for the effectuating
of this article.
[Amended 12-26-1995 by Ord. No. 1110]
A.
No person shall own, keep or harbor no more than four
cats or dogs or any combination of cats or dogs not to exceed four
per household nor shall any more than four cats or dogs or any combination
of cats or dogs exceeding four be sheltered or kept by any person,
resident or family within the Township of Saddle Brook, in the County
of Bergen, without first obtaining a license therefore, to be issued
by the Health Department of the Township of Saddle Brook upon application
of the owner and payment of the prescribed fee, and no person, resident
or family shall own, keep or harbor any dog or cat in the Township
except in compliance with the provisions of this article.
[Amended 12-11-1997 by Ord. No. 1150]
B.
Persons in possession of more than four cats or dogs
or any combination of four cats or dogs shall, upon notification from
the municipality, remove the animals in excess of the number limited
by this article within 10 days after receiving notification. This
restriction shall not apply to properly licensed pet shops, kennels,
shelters and pounds.
[Amended 3-26-1987 by Ord. No. 945; 12-30-1987 by Ord. No. 963; 12-11-1997 by Ord. No.
1150]
Any person who shall own, keep or harbor a dog
or cat of licensing age shall, in the month of January of each year,
apply for and procure from the Health Department of the Township of
Saddle Brook a license and official metal registration tag for each
such dog or cat so owned, kept or harbored, and shall place upon each
such dog or cat a collar or harness with the registration tag securely
fastened thereto, and in addition to such tag each cat shall have
three bells securely fastened or affixed to such strap, collar or
harness. Duplicate tags will be issued upon satisfactory proof of
the loss of the original tag and upon payment of a fee of $2. Said
license is not transferable.
A.
The person applying for the license and registration
tag shall pay a fee of $8.80 for each dog to be licensed hereunder
and the sum of $0.50 for the registration tag of each dog. For each
annual renewal, the fee for the license and the registration tag shall
be the same as for the original license and tag.
[Amended 12-30-1981 by Ord. No. 849; 3-26-1987 by Ord. No. 945; 12-30-1987 by Ord. No.
963; 5-12-2011 by Ord. No. 1512]
B.
The person applying for the license and registration
tag shall pay a fee of $8.80 for each cat to be licensed hereunder
and the sum of $0.50 for the registration tag of each cat. For each
annual renewal, the fee for the license and the registration tag shall
be the same as for the original license and tag.
[Amended 12-30-1981 by Ord. No. 849; 3-26-1987 by Ord. No. 945; 12-30-1987 by Ord. No.
963; 5-12-2011 by Ord. No. 1512]
C.
Licenses, registration tags and renewals thereof as provided for in Subsections A and B shall expire on the last day of January in each year. Failure to obtain or renew a license or registration for a dog or cat by January 31 shall cause a late fee of $5 to be charged for the increased administrative costs of issuing the license or registration beyond the normal period.
[Amended 12-28-2000 by Ord. No. 1223]
D.
Any license and registration tag for a dog or cat
issued by any municipality in the State of New Jersey in any licensing
year shall be evidence of compliance with the applicable provisions
of this article.
E.
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.
[Added 10-27-1983 by Ord. No. 882]
A.
In addition to the fee fixed by the Township ordinance[1] as a license fee to be paid annually for the licensing
of each dog as defined in said ordinance, there is hereby established
and fixed an additional fee of $2 to be paid by any person applying
for a license and registration tag pursuant to Section 2 of P.L. 1941,
c. 151 (N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.2). This additional license and registration
tag fee of $2 to be applied is authorized by P.L. 1983, c. 181,[2] and as previously stated, said fee is in addition to the
fee charged pursuant to Section 3 of P.L. 1941, c. 151 (N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.3)
and shall be forwarded to the Department of Health pursuant to Section
11 of P.L. 1941, c. 151 (N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.11).
[Amended 12-30-1987 by Ord. No. 963]
B.
In addition to the fee charged pursuant to Section
3 of P.L. 1941, c. 151 (N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.3) and forwarded to the Department
of Health pursuant to Section 11 of P.L. 1941, c. 151 (N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.11),
any person applying for a license and registration tag pursuant to
Section 2 of P.L. 1941, c. 1951 (N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.2) shall pay a fee
of $3 for any dog of reproductive age which has not had its reproductive
capacity permanently altered through sterilization. Each person applying
for a dog license is required to present a veterinarian's certification
stating the animal has been altered. If a veterinarian cannot supply
a certificate, a notarized affidavit is required. This provision is
enacted in accordance with P.L. 1983, c. 172.
C.
The sum of $0.20 shall be forwarded to the State Treasurer
to be placed in the Pilot Clinic Fund created by the New Jersey Legislature
and to be used by the Commissioner of Health for the operation of
the animal sterilization pilot clinic established pursuant to that
Act. In addition, $1 shall be forwarded to the State Treasurer for
rabies control.
D.
The fee of $3 authorized to be collected by this section
shall be forwarded to the State Treasurer for deposit in the Animal
Population Control Fund created by the New Jersey Legislature pursuant
to the Act providing for the establishment of a program for the spaying
and neutering of dogs and cats.
The owner of any newly acquired dog or cat of
licensing age or of any dog or cat which attains licensing age shall
make application for license and registration tag for such dog or
cat within 10 days after such acquisition or age attainment.
[Amended 12-11-1997 by Ord. No. 1150]
A.
The application shall state the breed, sex, age, color
and markings of the dog or cat for which license and registration
are sought and whether it is of a long- or shorthaired variety; 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 Health Department.
B.
In addition, the Health Department shall forward to
the State Department of Health each month on forms furnished by the
said Department an accurate account of registration numbers issued
or otherwise disposed of. Registration numbers shall be issued in
the order of the applications.
A.
Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Township any dog or cat licensed in another state for the current year and bearing a registration tag and who shall keep the same or permit the same to be kept within the Township for a period of more than 90 days shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag for each such dog or cat, unless such dog or cat be licensed under § 58-9.
B.
Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Township any unlicensed dog or cat and shall keep the same or permit the same to be kept within the Township for a period of more than 10 days shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag for such dog or cat, unless such dog or cat be licensed under § 58-9.
No person, except an officer in the performance
of his duties, shall remove a registration tag from the collar of
any dog or cat without the consent of the owner, nor shall any person
attach a registration tag to a dog or cat for which it was not issued.
A.
Any person who keeps or operates or proposes to establish
a kennel, a pet shop, a shelter or a pound shall apply to the Health
Department for a license entitling him to keep or operate such establishment.
[Amended 12-11-1997 by Ord. No. 1150]
B.
The application shall describe the premises where
the establishment is located or is proposed to be located and the
purpose or purposes for which it is to be maintained and shall be
accompanied by the written approval of the Division of Health of the
Township, showing compliance with the local and state rules and regulations
governing location of and sanitation at such establishments.
C.
All licenses issued for a kennel, pet shop, shelter
or pound shall state the purpose for which the establishment is maintained,
and all such licenses shall expire on the last day of January of each
year and be subject to revocation by the governing body on recommendation
of the State Department of Health or the Division of Health of the
Township, for failure to comply with the rules and regulations of
the State Department or the Division of Health of the Township governing
the same, after the owner has been afforded a hearing by either the
State Department of Health or the Division of Health of the Township.
D.
Any person holding such license shall not be required
to secure individual licenses for dogs or cats owned by such licensee
and kept at such establishment; such licenses shall not be transferable
to another owner or different premises.
No dog or cat kept in a kennel or no dog or
cat kept in a pet shop, shelter or pound shall be permitted off such
premises except on leash or in a crate or other safe control.
License fees or other moneys collected or received
under the provisions of this article, except registration tag fees
for dogs, shall be forwarded to the Treasurer of the municipality
within 30 days after collection or receipt and shall be placed in
a special account separate from any of the other accounts of the municipality
and shall be used for the following purposes only: for collecting,
keeping and disposing of dogs and cats liable to seizure under this
article; for local prevention and control of rabies; for providing
antirabic treatment under direction of the local Division of Health
for any person known or suspected to have been exposed to rabies;
for payment of damage to or losses of poultry and domestic animals,
except dogs and cats, caused by a dog or cat; and for administering
the provisions of this article. Any unexpended balance remaining in
such special account shall be retained therein until the end of the
third fiscal year following and may be used for any other purposes
set forth in this section. At the end of the said third fiscal year
following and at the end of each fiscal year thereafter, there shall
be transferred from such special account to the general funds of the
municipality any amount then in such account which is in excess of
the total amount paid into said special account during the last two
fiscal years next preceding.
[Amended 3-26-1987 by Ord. No. 945; 12-11-1997 by Ord. No. 1150]
The registration tag fee of $0.50 for each dog
shall be forwarded within 30 days after collection by the Health Department
to the State Department of Health.
[Amended 12-11-1997 by Ord. No. 1150]
The Health Department of the Township of Saddle
Brook shall forward to the State Department of Health a list of all
kennels, pet shops, shelters and pounds licensed within 30 days after
the licenses therefor are issued, which list shall include the name
and address of the licensee and the kind of license issued.
[Amended 3-26-1987 by Ord. No. 945; 12-11-1997 by Ord. No. 1150]
The Department of Health, Recreation and Welfare
shall annually after February 1 cause to have made a canvass of all
dogs owned, kept or harbored within the limits of the Township and
shall report on or before May 1 of each year to the Division of Health
of the Township of Saddle Brook and to the State Department of Health
the result thereof, setting forth in separate columns the names and
addresses of persons owning, keeping or harboring unlicensed dogs
and the number of unlicensed dogs owned, kept or harbored by each
of said persons, together with a complete description of said unlicensed
dogs.
[Amended 3-26-1987 by Ord. No. 945]
The Mayor shall have the power to appoint annually
an Animal Warden, whose duty it shall be to enforce the provisions
of this article and who may impound unlicensed dogs and cats running
at large in violation of the provisions of this article.
A.
The Animal Warden of the Township shall take into
custody and impound or cause to be taken into custody and impounded
and thereafter destroyed or disposed of as provided in this section:
[Amended 3-26-1987 by Ord. No. 945]
(1)
Any dog or cat off the premises of the owner or of
the person keeping or harboring said dog or cat, which said official
or his agent or agents have reason to believe is a stray dog or cat.
(2)
Any dog or cat off the premises of the owner or of
the person keeping or harboring said dog or cat without a current
registration tag on his collar.
(3)
Any female dog or cat in season off the premises of
the owner or of the person keeping or harboring said dog or cat.
B.
If any dogs or cats so seized 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 the person keeping
or harboring said dog or cat is known, the Animal Warden shall forthwith
serve on the person whose address is given on the collar, or on the
owner or the person keeping or harboring said dog or cat, if known,
a notice in writing stating that the dog or cat has been seized and
will be liable to be disposed or destroyed if not claimed within seven
days after the service of the notice.
[Amended 3-26-1987 by Ord. No. 945]
C.
Notice under this section may be served either by
delivering it to the person on whom it is to be served or by leaving
it at the person's usual or last known place of abode or at the address
given on the collar, or by forwarding it by post in a prepaid letter
addressed to that person at his usual or last known place of abode
or at the address given on the collar.
D.
When a dog or cat so seized has been detained for
seven days after notice, when notice can be given as above set forth,
or has been detained for seven days after seizure, when no notice
has been given as above set forth, and the owner or person keeping
or harboring said dog or cat has not claimed said dog or cat and paid
all expenses incurred by reason of its detention, including maintenance
not exceeding $1 per day, or where the dog or cat is unlicensed at
the time of the seizure and the owner or person keeping or harboring
said dog or cat has not produced a license and registration tag for
said dog or cat, the aforesaid Animal Warden may cause the dog or
cat to be destroyed in manner causing as little pain as possible.
[Amended 3-26-1987 by Ord. No. 945]
Any officer or agent authorized or empowered
to perform any duty under this article is hereby authorized to go
upon any premises to seize for impounding any dog or dogs or cat or
cats which he may lawfully seize and impound when such officer is
in immediate pursuit of such dog or dogs or cat or cats, except upon
the premises of the owner of the dog or cat if said owner is present
and forbids the same.
No person shall hinder, molest or interfere
with anyone authorized or empowered to perform any duty under this
article.
No person shall keep, harbor or maintain any
dog or cat which shall habitually disturb the peace and quiet of the
neighborhood.
A.
No person owning, keeping or harboring any dog or
cat shall suffer or permit it to run at large upon the public streets
or in any public park, any public building or in any other public
place within the Township unless such dog or cat is accompanied by
its owner or his, her or its representative.
B.
All dogs and cats shall be leashed when in the business
district, as such district is defined in the Zoning Ordinance of the
Township,[1] or when on any property of the Board of Education or church
property. When in any other place within the Township, except places
prohibited by the terms of this article, such dogs or cats shall not
run at large except when on the owner's property or accompanied by
the owner, keeper or harborer. Any dog or cat found running at large
except as permitted by this article shall be deemed to be doing so
with the permission of the owner, keeper or harborer, and such person
shall be deemed guilty of a violation of this article.
No person owning, keeping or harboring any dog
or cat shall suffer or permit it to enter any food establishment,
which for the purpose of this article includes any place used in the
production, preparation, manufacture, packing, storage, transportation
or handling of food or foodstuffs intended for sale or distribution.
[Amended 3-27-1980 by Ord. No. 800]
A.
No person owning, keeping or harboring any dog or
cat shall suffer or permit it to soil, defile or commit any nuisance
on any common thoroughfare, sidewalk, passageway, bypath, play area,
park or any place where people congregate or walk, or upon any lawns,
shrubbery or tree on any public property or upon the lawn, shrubbery
or tree of any private property not belonging to the owner or custodian
of said dog or cat.
B.
No person shall walk a dog on any public street or
any other public place or on any private premises other than property
owned by or under the control of the owner of the dog unless such
person shall at all times have on his person a proper scoop and container
or similar efficient, sanitary means to immediately remove any and
all feces deposited by such dog.
Any dog or cat found in any place specified in § 58-22 shall be deemed to be in such place by permission or order of the owner, harborer or keeper of such dog or cat, and any dog or cat committing any of the acts specified in § 58-23 shall be deemed to have committed such act by permission or order of the owner, harborer or keeper of such dog or cat, and such owner, harborer or keeper shall be guilty of a violation of this article.
A.
All persons owning, keeping or harboring any dog over the age of
two months shall not permit said dog upon a public highway or outside
of the premises occupied by said owner unless such dog is securely
fastened by a leash at all times throughout the year.
[Amended 5-4-2023 by Ord.
No. 1732-23]
B.
The Township Council may designate a time during which
dogs outside the premises shall be muzzled, such designation to be
by publication at least two times in a newspaper in which legal notices
of the Township may be published, and after such publication no person
owning, keeping or harboring a dog shall permit it upon a public highway,
public place or outside the premises occupied by the owner during
the period designated unless such dog wears a muzzle securely fastened
over its jaws in such a manner that it cannot bite.
[Amended 12-26-1995 by Ord. No. 1110]
A.
Any dog which has attacked or bitten any human being
or which habitually attacks other dogs or domestic animals is hereby
defined to be a "vicious dog" for the purposes of this section. It
shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer, or in the absence
of any such officer, the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the municipality,
or his designee, to receive and investigate complaints against dogs,
and when any dog complained of shall be deemed by such Animal Control
Officer or Chief Law Enforcement Officer, or his designee, to be a
vicious dog as herein defined, said officer shall report the facts
to the Judge of the Municipal Court of the Township of Saddle Brook,
who shall thereupon cause the owner or person harboring such dog to
be notified in writing of the complaint against such dog and to appear
before said Judge at a stated time and place. The Animal Control Officer
shall notify the official responsible for convening a hearing, the
Municipal Court and the Municipal Health Officer immediately that
he has seized and impounded a dog or that he has killed another domestic
animal and that a hearing is required. The Judge at the time set for
such hearing shall inquire into the facts and give all interested
persons an opportunity to be heard under oath and to be represented
by counsel and the Judge shall decide in accordance with the evidence
before him, and if he shall decide that such dog complained of is
a vicious dog as defined by this section, notice of such decision
shall be given to the owner or person harboring such dog. No dog which
has been so determined to be a vicious dog shall be permitted to run
at large or be upon any street or public place in the Township of
Saddle Brook except while securely muzzled and under leash as provided
in this article, and the owner or person harboring any such vicious
dog who shall suffer or permit such dog to run at large or be upon
any street or public place in said Township while not securely muzzled
and under leash shall be guilty of a violation of this article.
B.
Any person is hereby authorized to sign a complaint
if said person has reason to believe that a dog is vicious.
The governing body may enter into negotiations
and may contract with a dog warden, humane society or the Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for a period not exceeding
one year, for collection, keeping for redemption, destroying or disposing
of all dogs and cats running at large or of unlicensed or stray dogs
or cats found within the Township limits, and for sheltering and feeding
such dogs or cats during the redemption and to defray the cost thereof.
[Amended 3-27-1980 by Ord. No. 800; 12-26-1995 by Ord. No. 1110]
Any person who violates or refuses to comply
with the regulations of this article shall be liable to a penalty
of not less than $100 nor more than $250 for each offense, to be recovered
by and in the name of the Township. A person who refuses or neglects
to pay forthwith the amount of a judgment rendered against him and
the cost and charges incidental thereto shall be committed by the
court to the county jail for a period not exceeding 10 days in the
case of a first conviction and, in the case of a conviction for a
second subsequent or continuing violation, for a period not exceeding
30 days. All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with this
ordinance are hereby repealed. This ordinance shall take effect upon
final passage and publication as provided by law.
