Township of Rochelle Park, NJ Article IV Feral Cats

[Added 10-19-2005 by Ord. No. 937-05]

§ 73-12 Definitions.

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

The person appointed annually by the Township Committee, either directly or by interlocal services agreement, to handle the animal control needs of the Township of Rochelle Park.

ANIMAL COORDINATOR

The person appointed annually by the Township Committee to maintain records of feral cats, to recommend caregivers and to do such duties specified in § 73-14 or as added by § 73-17.

CAREGIVER

A volunteer, uncompensated person who agrees to serve to facilitate the TNR Program[1] within the Township in accordance with this article and any rules and regulations that may be established by the Township Committee. A caregiver shall not be deemed an employee of the Township and shall hold such volunteer position at the pleasure of the Township Committee and may be removed from or precluded from holding such volunteer position in the sole discretion of the Township Committee.

EAR TIPPING

The marking of a cat's ear through a surgical procedure performed by a qualified personnel.

FERAL CAT

Any cat that is not licensed in accordance with Township ordinances and is free-roaming as part of an identifiable colony of such cats, which may consist of several cats or a single cat.

[1] Editor's Note: TNR Program is also known as the "Trap, Neuter and Return Program."

§ 73-13 Funding.

The Township may establish a fund or provide services to offset the costs of trapping, neutering, and vaccinating captured feral cats that can be returned to an appropriate, controlled, protected and registered colony site. Caregivers for such colonies, whether one or several animals, may be aided by the Township in providing traps for the capture of the cat, transportation to a spay/neuter facility and offsetting costs, to the extent that funding is available.

§ 73-14 Clearinghouse for caregivers.

Each feral cat colony will be registered by the caregivers with the Township's Animal Coordinator, who will serve as a clearinghouse for information on current caregivers, education for new caregivers, and assistance for persons found in violation of this article.

§ 73-15 Ear tipping.

Ear tipping will be used on feral cats in order to be identified as a spayed or neutered and vaccinated member of a managed colony.

§ 73-16 Violations and penalties.

Any person or caregiver determined to be in violation of Subsections A through D below shall be issued a written warning and be allowed a period of time, in the discretion of the Animal Control Officer, but not longer than 90 days, to come into compliance or provide satisfactory evidence of working to achieve compliance. Failure to comply shall result in a violation of this article, which may result in the issuance of a citation. Caregivers of feral cat colonies shall implement proper management and sterilization practices, as well as seek the assistance of the Animal Control Officer and/or Animal Coordinator as follows:

A. Sterilize (spay/neuter) all adult cats that can be captured.

B. Vaccinate, as required by law, all cats that can be captured:

(1) Against rabies, preferably with a three-year vaccine.

(2) And any other infectious disease as mandated by law.

C. Make every attempt to remove kittens from the colony before eight weeks of age for domestication and placement.

D. Make every attempt to remove sick or injured cats from the colony for immediate veterinarian care or humane euthanasia.

E. Assure responsibility and arrangements for feeding the cat colony regularly throughout the year, including weekends, holidays and vaccinations of the feral cat caregiver. Feeding on caregiver's property of feral cats managed by such caregiver shall not constitute a violation of the prohibition of § 73-9 above.

F. Make every attempt to "ear tip" all cats with a single cut, preferably on the left ear, and arrange for the implantation of an identification microchip for each cat in the colony. If this is not practicable under the circumstances, photographic documentation adequate to identify the cat shall be obtained.

G. Maintain proof of sterilization, vaccination, ear tipping and implantation of microchip and medical records for all cats. These records must be provided to the Animal Coordinator upon request.

H. Register the feral cat colony with the Animal Coordinator for the Township of Rochelle Park.

I. Execute all documents required by the Township which may be established by this article or by resolution of the Township Committee.

§ 73-17 Rules and regulations.

The Township Committee shall have the authority to adopt further rules and regulations applicable to the TNR Program to the extent that the same are consistent with and do not modify the provisions of this article.