Unless the context of this article indicates
otherwise, the words and phrases contained in this article shall have
the meanings ascribed to them in this section:
For the purposes of this article, an animal refers to a pet
that is a member of the kingdom of living beings, commonly known as
a domestic animal that has been adapted or tamed to live in intimate
association with, and for the pleasure of, the human species, and
includes, but is not limited to, dogs, cats, rabbits, snakes, birds,
and reptiles.
[Added 5-8-2019 by Ord. No. 0-19-01]
Any person or agency designated or certified by the State
of New Jersey; County of Gloucester; or South Harrison Township to
enforce the provisions of this article.
[Amended 5-8-2019 by Ord. No. 0-19-01]
Off the premises of the owner and not under the control of
the owner or a member of his or her immediate family, either by leash,
cord, chain or otherwise.
Any member of the animal species Canis Familiaris.
Any dog which has attained the age of seven months or which
possesses a set of permanent teeth.
Any person who provides food and shelter for any domesticated
animal on a periodic or temporary basis.
The Township of South Harrison, or other designee, is hereby
charged with administering the issuance and/or revocation of permits
and licenses under the provisions of this article.
[Amended 5-8-2019 by Ord. No. 0-19-01]
Rendered permanently incapable of reproduction as certified
by a licensed veterinarian.
For purposes of this article, all animals other than dogs,
including but not limited to birds, reptiles, fish, etc., which are
harbored, kept or owned or run wild in the Township of South Harrison.
A person having right of property in any animal, who keeps
an animal, who has an animal in his or her care or custody, or who
knowingly permits an animal to remain on or about any premises occupied
by him.
Any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association,
trust, estate or other legal entity.
An establishment operated by a person who acquires dogs,
cats or other animals bred by others, whether as owner, agent or on
consignment, and sells, offers to sell, exchanges or offers for adoption,
with or without charge, such dogs, cats or other animals as domestic
pets to the general public at wholesale or retail.
Any dog or dog hybrid declared potentially dangerous by a
municipal court pursuant to Section 7 of P.L. 1989, c. 307 (N.J.S.A.4:19-23).
[Added 5-8-2019 by Ord. No. 0-19-01]
Any Township Code Enforcement Official, Police Department
officer, Gloucester County Animal Control Officer, the Township Clerk,
or any other official or person(s) assigned or designated by the Mayor
and Township Committee.
[Added 5-8-2019 by Ord. No. 0-19-01]
Any dog or dog hybrid declared vicious by a municipal court
pursuant to Section 6 of P.L. 1989, c. 307 (N.J.S.A. 4:19-22).
[Added 5-8-2019 by Ord. No. 0-19-01]
A.Â
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, harbor
or keep a dog in the Township of South Harrison without first having
obtained a license as required by this article. Any person who shall
own, keep or harbor a dog of licensing age shall, in January of each
year and annually thereafter, apply for and procure from the Municipal
Clerk of the Township of South Harrison or such other licensing official
as may be designated by the Council of the Township of South Harrison
a license and an official metal registration tag with license number
or registration sleeve for each such dog so owned, kept or harbored
and shall place upon each such dog a collar or other device with the
registration tag securely fastened thereto. Licenses and registration
tags or sleeves are not transferable.
B.Â
Fees.
(1)Â
Any person applying for a dog license, registration
tag or registration sleeve shall pay a fee of $6 for each dog license
for a dog which has been neutered or spayed. The fee for a dog which
has not been neutered or spayed is $9. For each annual renewal, the
applicant shall pay the same fee for the license and registration
tag as for the original license and tag. The application for such
dog license shall state the breed, sex, age, color, name and markings
of the animal and the name, street and post office address of the
owner and the person who shall be harboring such animal. Proof of
rabies vaccination is required before a license can be issued.
(2)Â
In addition to state mandated fees and/or charges,
including registration fees, pilot clinic fund fees and pet population
control fund fees, a late charge of double the amount of the current
fee shall be assessed whenever an application for renewal of an existing
dog license is made after April 15 of each year.
C.Â
The person applying for the license and registration
tag and/or sleeve shall pay the fee fixed or authorized. Renewal thereof
shall expire on the last day of December in each year in the case
of dogs. Only one license and registration tag or sleeve shall be
required in the licensing year for any dog in the Township of South
Harrison. Any valid New Jersey license tag or sleeve issued by a New
Jersey municipality shall be accepted by this municipality as evidence
of compliance.
A.Â
Age requirement. No person shall own, keep, harbor
or maintain any dog over seven months of age within the Township of
South Harrison unless such dog is vaccinated and licensed. The licensing
provision of this section does not apply to dogs held in a kennel
or pet shop.
B.Â
Vaccination. All dogs shall be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian in accordance with the latest Compendium of Animal Rabies Vaccines and Recommendations for Immunization published by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, except as provided for in Subsection P.
C.Â
Vaccination certificate. A certificate of vaccination
shall be obtained by the dog owner for each dog vaccinated and provided
to the licensing authority as proof of rabies vaccination.
D.Â
Exemptions. Any dog may be exempted from the requirements
of such vaccination for a specified period of time by the Township
of South Harrison's Board of Health upon presentation of a veterinarian's
certificate stating that because of an infirmity or other physical
conditions, or regimen of therapy, the inoculation of such dog shall
be deemed inadvisable.
E.Â
Time for applying for license. The owner of any newly
acquired dog of licensing age or of any dog which attains licensing
age shall make application for a license, registration tag or sleeve
for such dog within 10 days after such acquisition or age attainment.
This requirement shall not apply to a nonresident keeping a dog within
the Township of South Harrison for no longer than 90 days.
F.Â
Dogs brought into the Township of South Harrison.
Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Township
of South Harrison any dog licensed in another jurisdiction of the
current year and bearing a registration tag or sleeve and who shall
keep the same or permit the same to be kept within the Township of
South Harrison for a period of more than 90 days shall immediately
apply for a license and registration tag or sleeve for each such dog.
Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Township
of South Harrison any unlicensed dog and who shall keep the same or
permit the same to be kept within the Township of South Harrison for
a period of more than 10 days shall immediately apply for a license
and registration tag or sleeve for each such dog.
G.Â
Application, contents and preservation of information.
The application shall state the breed, sex, age, color and markings
of the dog for which license and registration tag are sought, information
as to whether it is spayed/neutered and whether it is of a long-haired
or short-haired variety and also the name, street and post office
address and telephone number of the owner and the person who shall
keep or harbor such a dog. The information on said application and
the registration number issued for the dog shall be preserved for
a period of three years by the animal control authority.
H.Â
License form and tags. License forms and official
tags or sleeves shall be furnished by the Township, shall be numbered
serially and shall bear the year of issuance and the name of the Township.
I.Â
Evidence of inoculation with rabies vaccine or certification of exemption; requirement for license. The Municipal Clerk or other municipal official designated by the Township Committee to license dogs shall not grant any license and official registration tag or sleeve for any dog unless the owner thereof provides evidence that the dog to be licensed and registered has been inoculated with a rabies vaccine of a type approved by and administered in accordance with the recommendations of the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Human Services or has been certified exempt as provided by Subsection D of this section. The rabies inoculation shall be administered by a duly licensed veterinarian or by such other persons permitted by law to do the same.
J.Â
License fee schedule. A license shall be issued after
payment of the fee required under this article.
K.Â
Person authorized to issue licenses. Unless otherwise
provided by resolution of the Township Committee, it shall be the
duty of the Municipal Clerk to issue all license certificates on payment
of the license fee required by this article, to receive any and all
license fees paid for dogs in accordance with this article, to keep
a record of all such fees, to issue a certificate therefor showing
the name and residence of the person paying the fee, together with
the number designated upon the registration tag or sleeve furnished
therewith, and to pay over all moneys collected for such fees and
tags to the Chief Financial Officer within 30 days.
L.Â
Registration tag to be worn; unofficial tags prohibited.
(1)Â
Each and every dog licensed in accordance with this
article shall wear a collar, sleeve or other device to which shall
be securely attached the registration tag required in § 121-2
bearing the number of the license certificate.
(2)Â
The use of any other tag as a substitute for those
furnished by the Township is hereby strictly forbidden, and any person
found guilty of using such other tag shall be deemed guilty of violating
this article.
M.Â
Loss of license. If a registration tag or sleeve has
been misplaced or lost, the Municipal Clerk may issue a duplicate
license and/or registration tag or sleeve for that particular dog
at a replacement fee of $5.
N.Â
Proof of licensing. Proof of licensing shall be produced
by any person owning, keeping, maintaining or harboring a dog, upon
request of any health official or other authorized person.
O.Â
Disposition of fees collected from licensing activities.
License fees and other moneys collected or received under the provisions
of this article as they pertain to dog licensing shall be forwarded
to the Chief Financial Officer of the Township of South Harrison within
30 days and shall be placed in a special account separate from any
of the other accounts of the municipality and shall be used for the
following purposes only: collecting, keeping and disposing of dogs
liable to seizure, for local prevention and control of rabies and
for administering the provisions of this article. Any unexpected balance
remaining in such special account shall be retained 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 said third fiscal
year following and at the end of each fiscal year thereafter, there
shall be transferred from such special account to the general funds
of the municipality any amount then in such account which is in excess
of the total amount paid into the special account during the last
two fiscal years next preceding.
P.Â
The animal control authority of the Township of South
Harrison shall cause the provisions of this article to be enforced
as herein provided.
A.Â
Any person who keeps or operates or proposes to establish
a pet shop shall apply to the Township Board of Health for a license
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 Sanitary Inspector
of the Township of South Harrison showing compliance with local and
state rules and regulations.
B.Â
The annual license fee for a pet shop shall be $ 100.
C.Â
All licenses issued for a pet shop shall state the
purpose for which the establishment is maintained, and all such licenses
shall expire on the last day of December of each year and be subject
to revocation by the municipality on recommendation of the New Jersey
State Health Department, Township of South Harrison Board of Health
or the animal control authority of the Township of South Harrison
for failure to comply with the rules and regulations of the New Jersey
State Health Department or the Board of Health of the Township of
South Harrison after the owner has been afforded a hearing by either
the New Jersey State Health Department or the Board of Health.
A.Â
The animal control authority of the Township of South
Harrison shall cause an annual canvass to be made of all dogs owned,
kept or harbored within the limited area of the Township of South
Harrison and shall cause a report of the results thereof to be filed
with the New Jersey State Health Department.
B.Â
The Township Committee shall contract the necessary
person(s) to conduct the annual canvass on a door-to-door basis and
shall, on or before August 20 of each year, submit a report of the
results of the canvassing to the Municipal Clerk. That report shall
include, at a minimum, the total number of dogs owned, kept and/or
harbored within the limited area of the Township of South Harrison
as well as the number of unlicensed dogs discovered, a complete description
of those dogs and the names and addresses of all persons owning, keeping
or harboring any such unlicensed dogs.
A.Â
Running at large prohibited. It shall be unlawful
for any person harboring, owning or possessing any dog to permit the
same to run at large. For the purpose of this section, "running at
large" shall be defined to be the presence of a dog at any place except
upon the premises of the owner. A dog shall not be considered to be
running at large if it is on a leash and under the control of a person
physically able to control it.
B.Â
Impounding animals at large. Any animal running at
large and/or threatening public health and safety shall be apprehended
and impounded by Gloucester County Animal Control at the expense of
the owner.
C.Â
Entry upon premises for seizure. Any person or agent
authorized or empowered to perform any duty under this article is
hereby authorized to go upon any premises to seize for impounding
any dog which he or she may lawfully seize and impound when he or
she is in immediate pursuit of such dog, except upon premises of the
owner of such dog if said owner is present and forbids such entry.
D.Â
Procedures after impounding. After the impounding
of any dog, the Gloucester County Animal Control shall proceed in
accordance with the procedures outlined in N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16 concerning
the impounding or taking of dogs or animals into custody. In addition
to any and all fees or costs as authorized and provided for by the
provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16, the Gloucester County Control Officer
shall be authorized to charge the sum as an initial fee for the impounding
of any said animal, together with a charge, as set by the county,
for each day during which said animal was boarded by the County of
Gloucester. The owner of any animal euthanized by the Gloucester County
Animal Control shall be responsible for all costs associated with
euthanasia and disposal.
A.Â
It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to keep
any dog which habitually barks, howls, yelps, whines or cries or any
cat which habitually cries, howls or whines to the great discomfort
of the peace and quiet of the neighborhood or in such manner as to
materially disturb or annoy persons in the neighborhood who are of
ordinary sensibilities. Such cats and dogs are hereby declared to
be a public nuisance and, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:48-1, are also declared
to be a disturbing noise.
B.Â
It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to keep
or harbor any dog, cat or other animal in such a manner that the premises
on which such dog, cat or other animal are so kept or harbored reeks
of offensive odors to the extent that the occupants of adjacent premises
are materially deprived of their ability to occupy, use and otherwise
enjoy those adjacent premises.
[Amended 10-11-2017 by Ord. No. 0-17-10]
The keeping, control and disposition of vicious and potentially
dangerous dogs within the Township of South Harrison shall be in accordance
with the provisions of the Vicious and Potentially Dangerous Dog Act,
N.J.S.A. 4:19-16, et seq., as such statute may be amended ("Act").
The terms "vicious dog" and "potentially dangerous dog" shall mean
any dog or dog hybrid declared vicious or potentially dangerous in
accordance with the provisions of the Act cited above in this section
and specifically N.J.S.A. 4:19-22 and N.J.S.A. 4:19-23, respectively.
Any person owning, keeping or harboring any
dog or cat or any other animal shall not permit or suffer it to do
any injury or damage to any poultry or other domestic animal.
A.Â
Any person owning, keeping or harboring any dog or
cat or any other animal shall not permit or suffer it to do any injury
to any lawns, shrubbery, flowers, gardens or other property.
B.Â
No person owning, harboring, keeping or in charge
of any cat, dog or other animal shall cause, suffer or allow such
cat or dog or other animal to soil, defile, defecate on or commit
any nuisance on any common thoroughfare, sidewalk, passageway, bypath,
play area, park or any place where people congregate or walk or upon
any public property whatsoever or upon any private property without
the permission of the owner of said property. The restriction in this
subsection shall not apply to that portion of the street lying between
the curblines, which shall be used to curb such dog, cat or other
animal under the following conditions:
(1)Â
The person who so curbs such dog, cat or other animal
shall immediately remove all feces deposited by such dog, cat or other
animal by any sanitary method approved by the local health authority.
(2)Â
The faces removed from the aforementioned designated
area shall be disposed of by the person owning, harboring, keeping
or in charge of any dog, cat or other animal curbed in accordance
with the provisions of this article in a sanitary manner approved
by the local health authority.
No person, whether on public or private property,
shall attract or feed wild animals, including but not limited to Canada
geese, in such a way that threatens the public safety or creates a
public nuisance. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit persons from
feeding by throwing or scattering small quantities of food directly
to birds or certain small wild animals, such as squirrels, or prohibit
persons from feeding certain wild animals and birds on their private
property by leaving food for such animals in a manner commonly or
ordinarily used for the feeding of these wild animals and birds, such
as bird feeders or other receptacles.
[Amended 5-8-2019 by Ord. No. 0-19-01]
Any person who shall in any way hinder or interfere
with the Township official, Animal Control Officer, police officers
or officials, constables, canvassers or any other peace officers in
the performance of their duties under the provisions of this chapter,
shall be deemed to have violated the provisions of this chapter.
A.Â
No person shall be cruel or inhumane to an animal,
said cruelty and inhumanity consisting of beating, torturing, mutilating,
cruelly killing or clearly failing to provide food, drink or shelter
for the animal or abandoning any animal of which he or she has charge,
either as owner or otherwise.
B.Â
No person owning, keeping, harboring or having the
care, custody or control of any animal shall abandon such a maimed,
sick, infirm or disabled animal or creature to die.
A.Â
Except as provided in N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.1 et seq., any person owning, keeping or harboring any dog, cat or other animal who shall be found guilty of violating any provision of this article shall, for each offense, upon conviction thereof by the Municipal Judge, be punishable as provided in § 1-14 of this Code.
[Amended 8-9-2006 by Ord. No. 0-06-08]
B.Â
If upon complaint made by the animal control authority
or a member of the Police Department or any citizen of the Township
against the owner or person keeping or harboring a dog and upon hearing
before the Municipal Court, such dog shall be found to have caused
damage to property or to have committed or threatened injury to a
person, the Judge of the Municipal Court may order and direct the
owner or person keeping or harboring such dog to keep the dog confined
to his or her premises or restrained upon a leash, if allowed outside
his or her premises, for such limited or unlimited period of time
as the Judge of the Municipal Court may prescribe. For failure to
comply with such order, the owner or person keeping or harboring such
dog shall be subject to the general penalty provisions of this article.
[Added 5-8-2019 by Ord. No. 0-19-01]
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 5-8-2019 by Ord. No. 0-19-01]
Gloucester County Animal Control Officers (GCACO), or other
designate, may investigate, and/or require compliance for violations
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:22. In the event the GCACO, or designate 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.
