[Adopted 10-26-1995 by Ord. No. 26-1995 as Ch. VIII of the 1994 Code]
The following words and terms shall have the meanings herein indicated for the purposes of this chapter.
ANIMAL CRUELTY INVESTIGATIONS
Gloucester County Animal Control Officers (GCACO), or other designee, may investigate, and/ or require compliance for violations pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4: 22. In the event the GCACO, or designee sees, or recognizes a potential criminal situation, or the need arises where a criminal investigation is warranted, the GCACO shall make contact/ report to the Municipal Humane Law Enforcement Officer for further action. The GCACO may continue to contribute to the investigation as requested or required.
[Added 2-27-2019 by Ord. No. 7-2019]
AT LARGE
A dog or cat off the premises of the person owning, keeping or harboring it and not securely fastened to a tether, leash, cord or chain or the like, not to exceed eight feet in length, held by its owner or other person capable of controlling such dog or cat.
CERTIFIED ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
A person 18 years of age or older who has satisfactorily completed the course of study approved by the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services and the Police Training Commission as prescribed by paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection a of Section 3 of P.L. 1983, c. 525 (N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16a); or who has been employed in the State of New Jersey in the capacity of, and with similar responsibilities to those required of, a certified animal control officer pursuant to the provisions of P.L. 1983, c. 525 for a period of three years before January 17, 1987.
[Amended 3-12-2003 by Ord. No. 4-2003]
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.
[Amended 3-12-2003 by Ord. No. 4-2003]
ENFORCEMENT
The Township official shall enforce the provisions of this article. Nothing herein shall prohibit a private citizen from bringing or signing a complaint for an alleged violation of this article.
[Added 2-27-2019 by Ord. No. 7-2019]
KEEPER
Any person exercising control over a dog or cat, or permitting a dog or cat to remain on premises under his/her control.
KENNEL
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.
OWNER
When applied to the proprietorship of a dog or cat, "owner" shall mean and include every person having a right of property in such dog or cat and every person who has such dog or cat in his/her keeping.
PET SHOP
Any place of business which is not part of a kennel, wherein animals, including, but not limited to, dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, rabbits, hamsters or gerbils, are kept or displayed chiefly for the purpose of sale to individuals for personal appreciation and companionship rather than for business or research purposes.
[Amended 3-12-2003 by Ord. No. 4-2003]
PIT BULL DOG
A. 
The Pit Bull Terrier breed of dog
B. 
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed of dog.
C. 
The American Pit Bull Terrier breed of dog.
D. 
The American Staffordshire Terrier breed of dog.
E. 
Dogs of mixed breed or of other breeds than listed under Subsections A through E whose breed or mixed breed is commonly known as pit bulls, pit bull dogs or pit bull terriers.
POUND
An establishment for the confinement of dogs seized either under the provisions of this chapter or otherwise.
SHELTER
An establishment for the confinement of dogs or cats seized either under the provisions of this chapter or otherwise.
[Amended 2-27-2019 by Ord. No. 7-2019]
TOWNSHIP OFFICIAL
Any Township Code Enforcement Official, Municipal Humane Law Enforcement Officer, Township Police Department officer, Gloucester County Animal Control Officer, the Municipal Clerk, or any other official or person assigned or designated by Mayor or Council.[1]
[Added 2-27-2019 by Ord. No. 7-2019]
[1]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "vicious dog," which immediately followed, was repealed 2-27-2019 by Ord. No. 7-2019.
A. 
License; when required. Licenses shall be required for the following dogs of licensing age:
(1) 
Any dog owned or kept within the Township by a resident of the Township on the first day of January of any calendar year.
(2) 
Any dog acquired by any person during the course of any calendar year and kept within the Township for more than 10 days after acquisition.
(3) 
Any dog attaining licensing age during the course of the calendar year.
(4) 
Any unlicensed dog brought into the Township by any person and kept within the Township for more than 10 days.
(5) 
Any dog licensed by another state and brought into the Township by any person and kept within the Township for more than 90 days.
B. 
Application for license; registration numbers.
(1) 
Each application for a license under this chapter shall give the following information:
(a) 
A general description of the dog sought to be licensed, including breed, sex, age, color and markings, and whether such dog is of a long or short-haired variety.
(b) 
Name, street and post office address of the owner and the person who shall keep or harbor such dog.
(2) 
Registration numbers shall be issued in the order in which applications are received.
C. 
Application for license; when made. Applications for licenses for dogs which are required to be licensed by the provisions of § 19-2A(1) shall be made before January 31 of each calendar year. In all other cases, the application for a license shall be made within 10 days of the day upon which the dog in question first becomes subject to the provisions of this article.
[Amended 9-12-2018 by Ord. No. 19-2018]
D. 
License record. The information on all applications under this chapter and the registration number issued to each licensed dog shall be preserved for a period of three years by the Township Clerk. In addition, he/she shall forward similar information to the State Department of Health and Senior Services each month on forms furnished by the Department.
E. 
Fees.
(1) 
The person applying for a license shall pay the fees as set forth in Chapter 80, Fees, for each dog. The same fees shall be charged for annual renewal of each license.
(2) 
Any person who shall fail to pay the fees prescribed herein within the time provided shall pay an additional late charge fee as set forth in Chapter 80, Fees.
F. 
Expiration date. Each dog license and registration tag shall expire on the last day of January of the calendar year following the calendar year in which it was issued, except licenses issued for three years shall expire January 31 of the third calendar year following the year of issue.
G. 
Exceptions.
(1) 
The provisions of this section shall not apply to any dog licensed under § 19-3. Dogs used as guides for blind persons and commonly known as "Seeing Eye" dogs, dogs used to assist handicapped persons and commonly known as "service dogs," or dogs used to assist deaf persons and commonly known as "hearing ear" dogs shall be licensed in the same manner as other dogs, except that the owner or keeper shall not be required to pay any fee.
[Amended 3-12-2003 by Ord. No. 4-2003]
(2) 
Only one license and registration tag shall be required, in any licensing year for any dog owned in New Jersey, and such license and tag issued by any other municipality of this state shall be accepted by the Township; as evidence of compliance with § 19-2A.
H. 
License forms and tags. License forms and uniform official metal registration tags shall be furnished by the Township Clerk. They shall be numbered serially and shall bear the year of issuance and the name of the Township.
I. 
Required rabies inoculation. All dogs kept in the Township are required to be inoculated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian every three years. Proof of such inoculation shall be presented upon application for a new dog license or application for renewal of a dog license.
A. 
License required. Any person who keeps or operates or proposes to establish a kennel, pet shop, shelter or pound shall apply to the Township Clerk for a license entitling him/her to keep or operate each establishment. Any person holding such license shall not be required to secure individual licenses for dogs owned by such licensee and kept at such establishments. Such licenses shall not be transferable to another owner or different premises.
B. 
Application information. The application shall contain the following information:
(1) 
The name and permanent and local address of the applicant.
(2) 
The street address where the establishment is located, or proposed to be located, together with a general description of the premises.
(3) 
The purposes for which it is to be maintained.
(4) 
The maximum number of dogs or cats to be accommodated by each establishment at any one time.
C. 
Approval of Health Officer. No license shall be issued until the proposed licensee submits a written statement from the Health Officer of the Board of Health that the establishment, or proposed establishment, complies with the local and state rules governing the location of and sanitation at such establishment.
D. 
License term. 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.
E. 
License fees. The annual license fees for kennel and pet shop licenses shall be as set forth in Chapter 80, Fees.
F. 
Compliance with state regulations.
(1) 
All licenses issued for a kennel, pet shop, shelter or pound shall be subject to revocation by the Township Council on recommendation of the State Department of Health and Senior Services or the Board of Health of the Township of Washington, Gloucester County for failure to comply with the rules and regulations of the State Department of Health and Senior Services or the Township Board of Health, after the owner has been afforded a hearing by either the State Department of Health and Senior Services or the Township Board of Health.
(2) 
Any person holding a license to establish, keep or operate a kennel, pet shop, shelter or pound shall comply with all Township ordinances and the rules and regulations promulgated by the State Department of Health and Senior Services governing the sanitary conduct and operation of kennels, pet shops, shelters and pounds, the preservation of sanitation therein, and the prevention of the spread of rabies and other diseases of dogs within and from such establishments.
G. 
Report to State Department of Health and Senior Services. The Township Clerk shall forward to the State Department of Health and Senior Services 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.
H. 
Control of dogs off premises. No dog kept in a kennel, pet shop, shelter or pound shall be permitted off such premises, except on leash or in a crate or other safe control.
A. 
License fees and other monies collected or received under the provisions of this chapter, except the registration tag fees and such other fees required to be sent directly to the state, shall be forwarded to the Treasurer of the Township within 30 days after collection or receipt, and shall be placed in a special account separate from any of the other accounts of the Township and shall be used for the following purposes only:
(1) 
Collecting, keeping and disposing of dogs liable to seizure under this chapter.
(2) 
Local prevention and control of rabies.
(3) 
Providing antirabies treatment under the direction of the local Board of Health for any person known or suspected to have been exposed to rabies.
(4) 
All other purposes prescribed by the statutes of New Jersey governing the subject.
(5) 
For administering the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
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 of the purposes set forth in this section. At the end of the third fiscal year following, and at the end of each fiscal year thereafter, there shall be transferred from such special account which is in excess of the total amount paid into the special account during the last two fiscal years next preceding.
C. 
The registration tag fee for each dog shall be forwarded within 30 days after collection by the Clerk to the State Department of Health and Senior Services.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 19-5, Dog canvass, was repealed 2-27-2019 by Ord. No. 7-2019. Original Section 8-6, Vicious dogs, which immediately followed this section, was deleted 3-12-2003 by Ord. No. 4-2003.
A. 
Causes for impoundment. Any person appointed for the purpose by the governing the municipality shall take into custody and impound or cause to be taken into custody and impounded, and thereafter destroyed or offered for adoption as provided in this section:
[Amended 3-12-2003 by Ord. No. 4-2003]
(1) 
Any dog off the premises of the owner or of the person keeping or harboring said dog which said official or his agent or agents have reason to believe is a stray dog;
(2) 
Any dog off the premises of the owner or of the person keeping or harboring said dog without a current registration tag on his collar;
(3) 
Any female dog in season off the premises of the owner or of the person keeping or harboring said dog;
(4) 
Any dog or other animal which is suspected to be rabid;
(5) 
Any dog or other animal off the premises of the owner reported to, or observed by, a certified animal control officer to be ill, injured or creating a threat to public health, safety or welfare, or otherwise interfering with the enjoyment of property.
B. 
Access to premises. Any officer or agent authorized or empowered to perform any duty under this chapter is hereby authorized to go upon any premises to seize for impounding any dog which he/she may lawfully seize and impound when such officer is in immediate pursuit of such dog, except upon the premises of the owner of the dog if the owner is present and forbids same.
C. 
Notice of seizure. If any dog so impounded or seized wears a registration tag, collar or harness having inscribed thereon or attached thereto the name and address of any person, or the owner or the person keeping or harboring the dog is known, the Animal Control Officer shall immediately serve on the person whose address is given on the collar, or on the person owning, keeping or harboring the dog, a notice, in writing, stating that the dog has been seized and will be liable to be disposed of or destroyed if not claimed within seven days after the service of the notice.
(1) 
A notice under this subsection 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 mail in a prepaid letter addressed to that person at his/her usual or last known place of abode, or to the address given on the collar.
D. 
Disposition of unclaimed dogs. The Animal Control Officer of the Township is authorized and empowered to cause the destruction of any unclaimed dog in as humane a manner as possible, or offer same for adoption under and of the following contingencies:
(1) 
When any dog so seized has not been claimed by the person owning, keeping or harboring such dog within seven days after notice or within seven days of the dog's detention when notice has not been or cannot be given as set forth in the previous subsection.
(2) 
If the person owning, keeping or harboring any dog so seized has not claimed the dog and has not paid all expenses incurred by reason of its detention, including maintenance, as set forth in Chapter 80, Fees.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsections D(3), D(4), E and F were repealed 2-27-2019 by Ord. No. 7-2019. This ordinance also renumbered former Subsection G as Subsection E.
E. 
Any redemption of a dog pursuant to the provisions of this section shall not be deemed to discharge or release the owner thereof from the penalties prescribed for any violation of this chapter.
No person shall own, keep or harbor a dog in the Township of Washington, Gloucester County, except in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and the following regulations:
A. 
Wearing of registration tag. All dogs for which licenses are required by the provisions of this chapter shall wear a collar or harness with the registration tag for such dog securely fastened thereto.
B. 
Use of registration tags. No person, except an officer in the performance of his/her duties, shall remove a registration tag from the collar of any dog without the consent of the owner, nor shall any person attach a registration tag to a dog for which it was not issued.
C. 
Interference with official duties. No person shall hinder, molest or interfere with anyone authorized or empowered to perform any duty under this chapter.
D. 
Disturbing the peace. No person shall own, keep, harbor or maintain any dog which habitually barks or cries so as to disturb others.
E. 
Running at large. No person owning, keeping or harboring any dog or cat shall suffer or permit it to run at large upon the public streets, in any public park, upon private property other than that of the owner or on any other public place within the Township.
F. 
Leashing of dogs. No person owning, keeping or harboring any dog shall suffer or permit it to be upon the public streets or in any of the public places of the Township unless such dog is accompanied by a person over the age of 12 years and is securely controlled by such person.
G. 
Property damage. No person owning, keeping or harboring a dog shall permit or suffer it to do any injury or to do any damage to any lawn, shrubbery, flowers, grounds, property or other animals.
[Amended 2-27-2019 by Ord. No. 7-2019]
H. 
Nuisances by dogs. No person owning, harboring, keeping, walking or in charge of any dog shall cause, suffer, permit or allow such dog to soil, defile, defecate on or commit any nuisance on any common thoroughfare, street, sidewalk, passageway, road, bypass, play area, park, any place where people congregate or walk, upon any public property whatsoever or upon any private property without the permission of the owner of the private property in the last instance. If any such person permits the dog to soil, defile, defecate on or commit any nuisance in the areas aforesaid, he/she shall immediately remove and dispose of all feces and droppings deposited by the dog. Removal shall be in a sanitary manner by shovel, container, disposal bag or such other sanitary means. In a multiple dwelling complex, the tenant dog owner shall take his/her dog to only the designated areas for walking of dogs or other animals which shall be provided and maintained in a sanitary manner by the management of the complex, if any. On the dog owner's property, such dog owner shall maintain the property in a sanitary manner in order to prevent any noxious odors, attraction of vermin breeding or any other public health nuisance to neighbors.
I. 
Penned dogs and other animals. Penning dogs or other animals outside of the home shall comply with N.J.S.A. 4:22-17.5.
[Amended 2-27-2019 by Ord. No. 7-2019]
J. 
Female dogs. A female dog in season shall be confined to the house or a pen. When she is walked or exercised she must be on a leash and controlled by a responsible adult. During the period a female dog is in season, such dog shall not be chained or tied in an open yard or area at any time.
K. 
Annoyances. No owner or person keeping or harboring a dog or cat, whether licensed or unlicensed, shall suffer or permit such dog or cat to do any of the following:
(1) 
Annoy neighbors and/or other persons living within the immediate vicinity by permitting such dog or cat to bark, howl, yowl or make other disturbing noises excessively which disturb the peace and quiet of the neighborhood.
(2) 
Chase any persons or bicycles, automobiles or other vehicles upon any public highway or road or in any public place.
A. 
Violations. For any violation of the licensing provisions under this article, same may be filed by the Gloucester County Animal Control Officer. All other complaints may be filed by the Gloucester County Animal Control Officer, Township Official or private citizens for the violation of any of the other regulations of or on either public or private property.
[Amended 9-12-2018 by Ord. No. 19-2018; 2-27-2019 by Ord. No. 7-2019]
B. 
Penalties.
(1) 
Except as provided in N.J.S.A 4:19-15.19 any person who violates any provisions of this chapter, upon conviction thereof, shall be liable to the penalties set forth in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article I of this Code for each and every offense.
[Amended 3-12-2003 by Ord. No. 4-2003]
(2) 
A separate violation shall be deemed to be committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
(3) 
All late charges set forth in Chapter 80, Fees, of this Code are in addition to any penalties which may be imposed for violations of this chapter.