The purpose of this article is to regulate animals
within the Township to insure the protection of the public, health,
safety and welfare of the citizens within the Township.
No person shall own, maintain, keep, pasture or harbor
any swine, sheep, goats, horses, ponies, cattle or other beasts of
burdens, mink, chinchillas, monkeys or large exotic or dangerous or
wild animals or any animal which is governed by the Endangered Species
Act, or any wild animals as a pet within the Township of Hillside.
The keeping of rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, white
laboratory rats, hamsters, mice, rats, or other such small animals
shall be under the control of the Board of Health and shall be limited
to five in total. That is to say there is to be a total of five but
not five of each species.
Under no circumstances shall such animals or rodents,
as mentioned above, be allowed to run at large but shall be kept confined
to a screen enclosure which shall be fly-proof, rodent-proof and mosquito-proof.
The screening shall be no coarser than United States count of 14 in
one direction and 18 in the other direction. All doors on the enclosure
shall be provided with self-closing devices.
No part of such enclosure shall be less than 20 feet
from the doors or windows of any building occupied by human beings,
whether occupied for dwelling or business purposes.
Any person found to have committed a second violation
of the same or any other provision of this article shall be punished
by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or by imprisonment not to exceed 90
days, or by community service not to exceed 90 days, or any combination
thereof, in the discretion of the Municipal Court.
Each day that a violation of this article exists shall
constitute a separate offense. Notwithstanding the penalties described
herein for violations of this article, the municipality shall be entitled
to pursue any other remedies available in law or in equity to enforce
the provisions hereof and to protect the citizens of the city.
The provisions of this article shall not in any way
be deemed to hinder or prohibit prosecution of violators pursuant
to state law and the penalties and provisions of state law are deemed
to be in addition to the penalties and provisions of this article.