[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council
of the Borough of Wrightstown as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted by Ord. No. 1976-9 (Sec. 8-1 of the Revised General Ordinances); amended in its entirety by Ord. No. 1995-9]
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated.
May be used interchangeably, and either of the two may be
applicable, whichever is more conducive towards the effectuating of
this article.
Any canine, including all males, bitches or spayed bitches.
Any dog which has attained the age of seven months or which
possesses a set of permanent teeth.
Any establishment where the business of boarding or selling
dogs or breeding dogs for sale is carried on, except a pet shop.
When applied to the proprietorship of a dog, shall mean and
include every person having a right of property in such dog and every
person who has such dog in his keeping.
An individual, firm, partnership, corporation or association
of persons.
Any room or group of rooms, cage or exhibition pen, not part
of a kennel, wherein animals are kept, displayed or sold.
An establishment for the confinement of dogs seized either
under the provisions of this article or otherwise.
Any establishment where dogs are received, housed and distributed
without charge.
Any dog which has been declared by a municipal judge to be
a vicious dog which has attacked or bitten any human being or which
habitually attacks other dogs or domestic animals.
No person shall keep or harbor any dog of licensing
age within the borough without first obtaining a license therefor,
to be issued by the Borough Clerk or other authorized persons, upon
application by the owner and payment of the prescribed fee, and no
person shall keep or harbor any dog within the borough except in compliance
with the provisions of this article.
Any person who shall own, keep or harbor a dog
of licensing age shall annually, in the month of January, apply for
and procure from the Borough Clerk or other authorized person, a license
and official 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 fastened thereto.
[Amended 9-12-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-09; 5-9-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-03]
A.
Persons
applying for license in the Borough of Wrightstown shall be required
to pay the following fees: $13.80 for a dog license, $1 for the registration
tag fee and $0.20 for the pilot clinic fee for each dog and each annual
renewal effective January 1, 2008, and thereafter. The Borough shall
be required to forward the registration tag fee for each dog to the
State of New Jersey in the manner described by statute. In addition,
there is a state-imposed population control fee of $3 for nonneutered
or nonspayed dogs. For each annual renewal, the fee for the license
and for the registration tag shall be the same as the original license
and tag. Said licenses and registration tags and renewals thereof
shall expire the last day of January of each year. Persons applying
for the renewal of a license and registration tag on or after the
first day of February in any license year for any dog which is required
to be licensed and registered under the provisions of this article
and could have been licensed and registered thereunder during the
month of January of the license year shall pay the additional sum
of $2 for each month or part of month thereafter to defray the administrative
cost incurred by the Borough as a result of late renewal.
B.
Dogs used
as guides for blind persons and commonly known as "Seeing Eye" dogs
shall be licensed and registered as other dogs hereinbefore provided
for, in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.3, and
shall not be required to pay any municipal license fee therefor.
The owner of any newly acquired dog of licensing
age or of any dog which attains licensing age shall make application
for license and registration tag for such dog within 10 days after
such acquisition of age attainment.
The application for license and registration
tag shall state the breed, sex, age, color and markings of the dog
for which license and registration are sought, and shall further state
whether the dog is of a long- or short-haired variety; also the name,
street and post office address of the owner and the person who shall
keep or harbor such dog. The information contained in the application
and the registration number issued for the dog shall be preserved
for a period of three years by the Borough Clerk or other authorized
person. In addition, the Clerk shall forward to the State Department
of Health each month, on forms furnished by the department an accurate
account of registration numbers issued or otherwise disposed of. Registration
numbers shall be issued in the order of the applications.
A.
No person shall keep or harbor any dog within the
borough without first obtaining a rabies certificate from a licensed
veterinarian in the State of New Jersey and without first obtaining
a license therefor issued by the Borough Clerk or such other authorized
person upon application by the owner and payment of the appropriate
fee. No person shall keep or harbor any dog in said municipality except
in compliance with the provisions of this article.
B.
No license or official registration tag for any dog
shall be issued unless the owner thereof provides evidence that the
dog to be licensed and registered has been inoculated with 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 Health, Education and Welfare,
or has been certified exempt as provided by regulations of the state
intervals as provided by regulations of the State Department of Health.
Such vaccination shall be repeated at intervals as provided by regulations
of the State Department of Health and shall be administered by a duly
licensed veterinarian.
A.
Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought
into the borough any dog licensed in another state for the current
year and bearing a registration tag, and shall keep the same or permit
the same to be kept within the borough for a period of more than 90
days shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag for
each such dog.
B.
Any person who shall bring or cause to be brought
into the borough any unlicensed dog and shall keep the same or permit
the same to be kept within the borough for a period of more than 10
days shall immediately apply for a license and registration tag for
each such dog.
No person, except an officer in the performance
of his duties, may remove a registration tag from the collar of any
dog without the consent of the owner, nor shall any person attach
a registration tag to a dog for which it was not issued.
A.
License fees and other moneys collected or received
under the provisions of the chapter, except registration tag and pilot
clinic fees, shall be forwarded to the treasurer of the borough within
30 days after collection or receipt.
B.
The registration tag fee of $1 and pilot clinic fee
for each dog shall forwarded within 30 days after collection by the
Borough Clerk or other authorized person to the State Department of
Health.
The Borough Council shall promptly after February
1 of each year cause an annual canvass to be made of all dogs owned,
kept or harbored within the limits of the borough and shall report
to the Clerk of the borough, the Board of Health of the borough, and
to the State Department of Health the result thereof, setting forth
in separate columns the names and addresses of person owning, keeping
or harboring such dogs, the number of licensed dogs owned, kept or
harbored by each of the persons, together with the registration numbers
of each of the dogs owned, kept or harbored by each of the persons,
together with a complete description of each of the unlicensed dogs.
The Borough Council shall have power to appoint
an Animal Control Officer, whose duty shall be to enforce the provisions
of this article. The Borough Council shall also have power to appoint
one or more persons to be known as "dogcatchers," who may impound
any dogs running at large in violation of the provisions of this article.
A.
The Animal Control Officer or other duly appointed
person of the borough shall take into custody and impound or cause
to be taken into custody and impounded, and thereafter destroy or
dispose of the dogs as provided in this section.
(1)
Any dog off the premises of the owner or of the person
keeping or harboring the dog which the official or his agent or agents
have reason to believe is a stray dog.
(2)
Any dog off the premises of the owner or of the person
keeping or harboring the dog without a current registration tag on
his collar.
(3)
Any female dog in season off the premises of the owner
or of the person keeping or harboring the dog.
B.
If any dog so seized wears a collar or harness having
inscribed thereon or attached thereto the name and address of any
person or a registration tag, or the owner or the person keeping or
harboring the dog is known, the duly appointed person shall forthwith
serve on the person whose address is given on the collar, or on the
owner of the person keeping or harboring the dog, if known, a notice
in writing stating that the dog has been seized and will be liable
to be disposed of or destroyed if not claimed within seven days after
the service of the notice.
C.
A notice under this section may be served either by
delivering it to the person on whom it is to be served or by leaving
it at the person's usual or last known place of abode or at the address
given on the collar, or by forwarding it by post in a prepaid letter
addressed to that person at his usual or last known place of abode
or to the address given on the collar.
D.
When any dog so seized has been detained for seven
days after notice, when notice can be given as set forth, or has been
detained for seven days after seizure, when notice has not been and
cannot be given as above set forth, and if the owner or person keeping
or harboring the dog has not claimed the dog and paid all expenses
incurred by reason of its detention, including maintenance not exceeding
$1 per day, and if the dog be unlicensed at the time of the seizure
and the owner or person keeping or harboring the dog has not produced
a license and registration tag for the dog, the Chief of Police or
other duly appointed person may cause the dog to be destroyed in a
manner causing as little pain as possible.
Any officer 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 or dogs which he
may lawfully seize or impound when such officer is in immediate pursuit
of such dog or dogs, except upon the premises of the owner of the
dog if the owner is present and forbids the same.
No persons shall hinder, molest or interfere
with anyone authorized or empowered to perform any duty under this
article.
No person shall keep, harbor or maintain any
dog which habitually barks or cries between the hours of 10:00 p.m.
and 6:00 a.m.
No person owning, keeping or harboring any dog
shall suffer or permit it to run at large upon the public streets
or in any public park or in any public building or in any other public
place within the borough.
No person owning, keeping or harboring any dog
shall suffer or permit it to be upon the public streets or in any
of the public places of the borough unless such dog is accompanied
by a person over the age of seven years and is securely confined and
controlled by an adequate leash not more than six feet long.
The Borough Council may also designate any other
times during which dogs outside the premises shall be muzzled, such
designation to be by publication at least once in a newspaper in which
legal notices of the borough may be published, and after such publication
no person owning, keeping or harboring a dog shall permit it to run
upon a public highway, public place or outside the premises occupied
by the owner, during the period designated, unless such dog wears
a muzzle securely fastened over its jaws in such a manner that it
cannot bite.
No person owning, keeping or harboring a dog
shall permit or suffer it to do any damage to any lawn, shrubbery,
flowers, grounds or property.
[Amended 11-8-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-10]
A.
No person owning, keeping, harboring or having the custody or possession
of a vicious or potentially dangerous dog, as defined, whether registered
or not, shall permit such dog to run at large in the Borough of Wrightstown
or permit such dog to be in or upon any public street, avenue, road
or highway or in or upon any public or quasi-public place unless such
dog at such time shall be led by a chain, cord or other leash in the
hands of a person capable of leading and controlling such dog or shall
be securely confined in an automobile or other vehicle.
B.
Any person who shall own, keep or harbor or have custody or possession
of an uncontrolled, vicious or potentially dangerous dog, as defined,
and who shall permit said dog to remain on his/her/its premises, but
outside the confines of a closed structure thereon, must muzzle, legally
fence in or securely leash or chain said dog in such a manner as to
prevent said dog from attacking or biting a person on said premises.
C.
No person, with the exception of duly appointed public officials
or employees acting in their official capacity, shall own, keep, harbor
or have custody or possession of any dog which has been or shall be
intentionally trained to attack, injure, maim or kill any human being
or domestic pet voluntarily or upon demand. Such dogs shall include,
but not be limited to, so-called "sentry," "security," "warehouse"
or "K-9" animals which are trained to attack humans or other animals.
[Added 11-8-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-10]
The Borough of Wrightstown does hereby incorporate N.J.S.A.
4:19-17 et seq. as applicable.
[Added 11-8-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-10]
The owner of a dog which is declared vicious or potentially
dangerous shall be responsible for all actual costs and expenses in
impounding and destroying the dog, convening the panel, notices and
such other administrative functions as may be required to be provided
by the Borough.
[Added 11-8-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-10]
The annual license fee for a potentially dangerous dog shall
be the sum of $150.
[Added 11-8-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-10]
Said license shall provide for the issuance of a dog registration
number and a red identification tag. The last three digits of the
registration number shall be a three-digit number assigned to the
Borough of Wrightstown pursuant to the regulations promulgated pursuant
to N.J.S.A. 4:19-19 et seq.
[Added 11-8-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-10]
Except as otherwise provided by N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.1 et seq.,
any person violating any provisions of this article shall be, upon
conviction, subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000, a jail term not
to exceed 90 days or a period of community service not to exceed 90
days or any combination of said penalties or all of said penalties
at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction over this matter.
It shall be the responsibility of the dog owner,
or any person in charge of a dog, to immediately remove and properly
dispose of dog feces while on public property within the Borough of
Wrightstown.
[Adopted by Ord. No. 1987-3 (Sec. 8-2 of the Revised
General Ordinances)]
Any person who keeps or operates or establishes
a kennel, shelter, pet shop or pound within the Borough of Wrightstown
shall apply to the Clerk of the borough for a license entitling him
to keep or operate such establishment. The applicant shall be required
to comply with all of the provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.8 et seq.
The applicant shall describe the premises where
the establishment is located or is proposed to be located, the purpose
or purposes for which it is to be maintained, and will enclose a diagram
indicating the site proposed to be utilized and the number of dogs
that will be harbored or kept.
All licenses issued for a kennel, shelter, pet
shop or pound for dogs shall expire on the last day of December of
each year and shall further be subject to revocation by the Borough
Council upon recommendations of the Board of Health or for failure
to comply with any rules, regulations or requirements established
by any state, county or local board or body. These licenses shall
not be transferable to another owner of a different premises.
No license shall be issued by the borough unless
it is satisfied that the operation of the facility will not interfere
with the use and enjoyment of the surrounding property owners.
The operator/owner shall at all times maintain
the premises in a neat and clean condition so that no obnoxious odors
shall emanate from the premises. All other requirements relating to
the barking of dogs shall apply to the operator/owner of the facility.
It shall be presumed that any person harboring,
maintaining or keeping four or more dogs shall be presumed to be operating
a facility subject to the requirements of this section. Any person
may, however, apply to the Borough Council for an exemption from the
requirements of this section upon showing to the satisfaction of the
council that the dogs are not being harbored, maintained or kept for
sale or other commercial purpose but are being maintained and kept
solely for the personal pleasure of the owner. The sale of three or
more dogs in the course of one calendar year shall be presumed, unless
otherwise rebutted by the owner, to constitute the operation of a
facility subject to the requirements of this section. Boarding of
dogs for a fee shall subject the owner to the requirement of this
section.
[Added by Ord. No. 1995-9]
The annual license fee for a kennel providing
accommodations for 10 or fewer dogs shall be $50 and for more than
10 dogs $75. The annual license fee for a pet shop shall be $75. No
fee shall be charged for a shelter or pound.
[Added by Ord. No. 1995-9]
The Clerk shall forward to the State Department
of Health a list of all kennels, pet shops, shelters and pounds licensed
within the borough. The list shall be forwarded within 30 days after
the licenses are issued, and it shall include the names and addresses
of the licensees and a designation of the types of licenses issued.
