[Adopted 8-13-1957 by Ord. No. 443]
A. 
Definitions. The words hereinafter defined shall have the meanings herein indicated for the purposes of this article as follows:
CAT
Any cat, male or female or spayed female.
CAT OF LICENSING AGE
Any cat which has attained the age of seven months.
DOG
Any dog, bitch or spayed bitch.
DOG OF LICENSING AGE
Any dog which has attained the age of seven months or which possesses a set of permanent teeth.
GOVERNING BODY
The Township Council of the Township of Saddle Brook.
KENNEL
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.
OWNER
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.
PERSON
An individual, firm, partnership, corporation or association of persons.
PET SHOP
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.
POUND
An establishment for the confinement of dogs or cats seized either under the provisions of this article or otherwise.
SHELTER
Any establishment where dogs and cats are received, housed and distributed without charge.
TOWNSHIP
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]
[1]
Editor's Note: See § 58-4.
[2]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.3c.
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.
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.
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.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 206, Zoning.
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.