[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Plainsboro 12-12-1977 by Ord. No. 0-77-17. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
Any person who shall own, keep or harbor a dog
of licensing age shall, on or before January 31 of each year, procure
from the Clerk of the Township a license and official metal registration
tag for each such dog so owned, kept or harbored and shall place upon
each such dog a collar or harness with the registration tag securely
attached thereto.
[Amended 5-11-1981 by Ord. No. 0-81-10; 11-12-1984 by Ord. No. 0-84-20; 11-7-2007 by Ord. No. 0-07-17]
A.
A license shall be issued after payment of a fee of
$16.20 for each nonneutered dog and $13.20 for each neutered dog.
Persons who fail to obtain a license as required within the time period
specified herein will be subject to a delinquent fee of $5 for the
first month and an additional $5 for every month thereafter.
B.
If a licensee tag has been misplaced or lost, the
licensing official may issue a duplicate license and/or registration
for that particular dog after payment of a fee of $10..
License forms and uniform official metal registration
tags designed by the State Department of Health shall be issued and
shall be numbered serially and shall bear the year of issue and the
name of the Township of Plainsboro.
The owner of a newly acquired dog of licensing
age or any dog which attains the licensing age shall make application
for license and registration tag for such dog within 10 days after
such acquisition or age attainment.
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 4-8-1998 by Ord. No. 0-98-7[1]]
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
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.
Any person who keeps or operates or proposes
to establish a kennel, a pet shop, a shelter or a pound shall apply
to the Clerk of the Township for a license entitling him to keep or
operate such establishment. Such 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 Township Health Officer
showing compliance with the local and state rules and regulations
governing the location of and sanitation at such establishment.
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 January 31 of
each year and be subject to revocation by the Township of Plainsboro
on recommendations of the State Department of Health or the Township
Board of Health for failure to comply with the rules and regulations
of the State Department of Health or the Township Board of Health
governing the same, after the owner has been afforded a hearing by
either the State Department of Health or the Township Board of Health.
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.
[Amended 4-14-1986 by Ord. No. 0-86-4]
A.
The initial license fee for a kennel shall be $100.
The annual license fee for a kennel providing accommodations for 10
or fewer dogs shall be $25 and for more than 10 dogs, $50.
B.
The initial license fee for a pet shop shall be $100.
The annual license fee for a pet shop shall be $25.
C.
No fee shall be charged for a shelter or pound.
No person shall own, possess, harbor or keep
any dog within the boundaries of the Township of Plainsboro which
has not been inoculated against rabies; provided, however, that dogs
which have not attained the age of six months shall not be required
to be so inoculated; and further provided that any dog may be exempt
from the requirement of such inoculation, for a specified period of
time, by the Health Officer upon the presentation of a certificate
from a veterinarian stating that, because of infirmity or other physical
condition, the inoculation of such dog for said specified period of
time is contraindicated.
Any person, firm or corporation owning, keeping,
harboring or having custody of said dog or dogs shall obtain from
the veterinarian who vaccinates said dog or dogs against rabies a
certificate on a form supplied by the Health Officer and available
at the Township Clerk's office, and shall, within 10 days of such
vaccination or within 10 days after bringing the dog into the Township
of Plainsboro, if the dog was vaccinated before being brought into
the Township, deliver said certificate to the Township Clerk's office,
who shall file the same with the records of the Health Officer.
No license shall be issued to any person, firm
or corporation unless a certificate issued by a duly licensed veterinarian
of the State of New Jersey, as hereinabove provided, is presented
to and filed with the Township Clerk, showing that such dog has been
vaccinated against rabies in the manner provided herein. Such certificate
shall show and certify that said vaccination will remain current throughout
the period for which the license is to be issued.
A.
No person
who owns, keeps or harbors a dog shall permit the same to run at large
or be upon the streets, highways or other public places or upon private
property other than that of the owner unless controlled by a leash
securely fastened to the dog's collar or harness and accompanied by
and under the control of a responsible person or unless confined within
a secure enclosure on its owner's property. This section shall not
be considered as prohibiting the exercising or training of dogs as
permitted by N.J.S.A. 23:4-25, nor shall it apply to hunting dogs
lawfully used during hunting seasons while under the control of the
owner, lessee or custodian.
B.
No dogs or other animals shall be allowed inside any Township building
except for service dogs.
[Added 10-8-2014 by Ord.
No. 0-14-08]
A.
Any dog running at large in violation of § 59-14 hereof shall be considered a stray dog, and the Chief of Police or any person appointed by the Township Clerk for the purpose shall take or cause to be taken into custody and impound any dog found running at large. Such impoundment shall be in accordance with the procedures enumerated in N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16.
B.
Right of entry. Any officer or agent authorized or
empowered to seize a dog hereunder is hereby authorized and empowered
to go upon any premises to take into custody any dog which he may
lawfully seize when he is in immediate pursuit of such, except upon
the premises of the owner of the dog if said owner is present and
forbids the same.
[Added 1-8-1979 by Ord. No. 0-79-1]
C.
Interference with enforcement. No person shall hinder,
molest or interfere with anyone in the performance of his powers or
duties under this section.
[Added 1-8-1979 by Ord. No. 0-79-1]
No person who owns, keeps or harbors any dog
shall permit such dog to be in or upon:
No person who owns, keeps or harbors any dog
shall permit such dog to bark, howl or cry habitually in such manner
as to constitute a nuisance, or to bite or molest any person, or to
injure or damage any lawn or shrubbery or flowers or grounds or any
property of any person other than its owner, or to behave in any way
so as to endanger person or property.
[Added 12-29-1992 by Ord. No. 0-92-25; 4-10-2006 by Ord. No. 0-06-03]
No person owning or having control of all animals shall allow such animal to soil, defecate on, or commit any nuisance on any common driveway, sidewalk, passageway, bypass, play area or any place where people congregate or walk, or upon any public property or upon any private property without the permission of the owner. In the event of a violation occurring on private property, a complaint is only fileable by the owner of the property. The restrictions in this section shall not apply to that portion of public streets between the curb lines or to those specially designated areas of public parks as set forth in § 25-9, subject to the following conditions:
A.
The owner or person having control of all animals
shall immediately remove all feces deposited by such animal.
B.
The removed feces shall be disposed of in a sanitary
manner.
C.
Any owner or keeper who requires the use of a disability
assistance animal shall be exempt from the provisions of this section
while such animal is being used for that purpose (e.g., Seeing Eye
Dog).
[Added 12-29-1992 by Ord. No. 0-92-25]
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall upon conviction thereof be subject to the general penalties set forth in § 1-15 of this Code.
[Added 4-8-1998 by Ord. No. 0-98-7]
The Certified Animal Control Officer is authorized
to investigate and sign complaints, arrest violators and otherwise
act as an officer for detection, apprehension and arrest of offenders
against the animal control, animal welfare and animal cruelty laws
of the state and ordinances of Plainsboro Township, if the officer
has completed the training required pursuant to Paragraph 4 of Subsection
a of Section 3 of P.L. 1983, c.525 (N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16a).
