[Adopted 12-19-2006 by Ord. No. 1511]
[Amended 10-7-2008 by Ord. No. 1551; 8-7-2018 by Ord. No. 1755]
The purpose and intent of this article is to prohibit the feeding of unconfined wildlife, including feral cats, on any property, public or private, within the City of North Wildwood, so as to protect public health, safety and welfare and to prescribe penalties for failure to comply.
For the purpose of this article, the following terms, phrase, words and their derivations shall have the meanings stated herein unless their use in the text of this article clearly demonstrates a different meaning. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words used in the plural number include the singular number, and words used in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
FEED
To give, place, expose, deposit, distribute or scatter any edible material with the intention of feeding, attracting or enticing wildlife. Feeding does not include baiting in the legal taking of fish and/or game. Feeding does not include baiting by an animal control officer or law enforcement officer that is conducted in furtherance of their official municipal duties.
[Amended 10-7-2008 by Ord. No. 1551]
FERAL CATS
Any homeless, stray, wild or untamed cat(s).
[Added 10-7-2008 by Ord. No. 1551]
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, or any political subdivision of this state subject to municipal jurisdiction.
WILDLIFE
All animals that are neither human nor domesticated, including, but not limited to, animals that typically are domesticated, but are homeless or stray animals as well as, by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, pigeons, seagulls, ducks, geese and other waterfowl or birds.
[Amended 10-7-2008 by Ord. No. 1551]
[Amended 10-7-2008 by Ord. No. 1551; 8-7-2018 by Ord. No. 1755]
No person shall feed any wildlife or feral cats, according to the definitions found in § 126-16, within the limits of the City of North Wildwood. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit persons from feeding birds on their private property using bird feeders.
This article shall be enforced by the Police Department of the City of North Wildwood or by any other individual authorized by law to enforce the ordinances of the City of North Wildwood.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Any person(s) who is found to be in violation of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction, be punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000, imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 90 days, or community service for not more than 90 days, or any combination thereof.