[Adopted 12-21-1982]
When any animal attacks or bites a human being, the Dog Warden may order the owner of the animal, if any, to confine it, either on the owner's premises or at any other reasonable location which the Dog Warden designates, for a period of at least 10 days. Any expenses of confining the animal shall be borne by the owner, if any.
[Added 12-16-2020 by Ord. No. BH 01-2020]
Any officer, official or agent authorized or otherwise empowered to perform any duty under this article is hereby authorized to go upon any premises to seize for impounding any animal determined pursuant to this article to be dangerous to humans which he or she may lawfully seize and confine or impound when such officer is in immediate pursuit of such animal, except upon the premises of the owner(s) of the animal if said owner is present and forbids the same.
The Dog Warden shall have the right to examine any animal confined under the provisions of this article at any reasonable time, including daily examinations, for a period of 10 days after the animal has attacked or bitten any person, to ascertain whether the animal shows symptoms of rabies.
The Dog Warden may order the owner of a confined animal under the provisions of this article to have the animal examined by a licensed veterinarian on one or more occasions during the confinement, with any expense thereof to be borne by the owner, if any.
Regardless of whether the period of time from which the owner was directed to confine the animal has expired or not, no animal confined under the provisions of this article shall be released from quarantine until the Dog Warden issues a certificate of release. The certificate shall only be issued after either the person designated by the Dog Warden to examine the animal or a licensed veterinarian has certified in writing that the animal appears to be healthy and free from rabies.
[Amended 12-16-2020 by Ord. No. BH 01-2020]
Any rabid or dangerous animal is hereby declared to be a nuisance.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 248-6, Violations and penalties, as amended, was repealed 12-16-2020 by Ord. No. BH 01-2020.
The provisions of this article shall not be construed to restrict in any manner the powers and authority of the Readington Township Board of Health or the Township of Readington to control rabies in accordance with N.J.S.A. 26:4-78 et seq. or their authority to abate nuisances in accordance with N.J.S.A. 26:3-45 et seq.