As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
CAT
Any member of the domestic feline species, male, female or
altered.
CAT OF LICENSING AGE
Any cat which has attained the age of seven months or which
possesses a set of permanent teeth.
CERTIFIED ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
A person 18 years of age or older who has satisfactorily
completed a course of study approved by the Commissioner of Health
on the control of animals prescribed pursuant to Section 3 of P.L.
1983, c. 525 (N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16a), or who has been employed in the
State of New Jersey in the capacity of, and with similar responsibilities
to those required of, a certified animal control officer.
FARM CAT
Any cat which is retained and used for the control of rodents
on land in agricultural use or on any real property whereupon large
farm animals, such as horses, cattle or sheep, are kept.
KENNEL
Any establishment where the business of boarding, selling
or breeding cats for sale is carried on, except a pet shop.
LICENSING AUTHORITY
The agency or department of Allamuchy Township or any designated
representative thereof charged with administering the issuance and/or
revocation of permits and licenses under the provisions of this article.
NEUTERED
Rendered permanently incapable of reproduction as certified
by a licensed veterinarian.
OWNER
When applied to the proprietorship of a cat, shall include
every person having a right of property (or custody) of such cat and
every person who has such cat in his/her keeping.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, partnership, organization or
institution commonly recognized by law as a unit.
PET SHOP
Any room or group of rooms, cage or exhibition pen, not part
of a kennel, wherein cats for sale are kept or displayed.
POUND
An official establishment for the confinement of cats seized
either under the provisions of this article or otherwise.
SHELTER
Any establishment where cats are received, housed and distributed
without charge.
No persons shall own, keep, harbor or maintain any cat over
seven months of age within Allamuchy Township unless such cat is vaccinated
and licensed.
All cats 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
B.
A. Vaccination certificate. A certificate of vaccination shall be issued
to the owner of each animal vaccinated on a form recommended by the
state.
B. Exemptions. Any cat may be exempted from the requirements of such
vaccination for a specified period of time upon presentation of a
veterinarian's certificate stating that, because of an infirmity or
other physical condition or regimen of therapy, the inoculation of
such cat shall be deemed inadvisable.
Farm cats are exempt from the vaccination and licensing regulations
in this article.
Where it has been determined that a person has been bitten by
a cat, the individual, or his parent or guardian if he is a minor,
shall immediately notify the Township. When the owner or keeper of
any cat is notified by the Township that the cat has bitten an individual,
the owner or keeper of the cat shall comply with the following procedures:
A. The owner or keeper of the cat shall have the cat examined by a licensed
veterinarian within 12 hours, unless the cat has a current rabies
vaccination.
B. The owner or keeper of the cat shall have the cat kept in quarantine
in the owner's home or at a kennel at the direction of the authorized
agent of the Township Council and/or any individual acting as an agent
of the Township of Allamuchy for a period of 10 days, unless the cat
has a current rabies vaccination. The unvaccinated cat must be quarantined
under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian for a period of 10
days, the cost of which is to be borne by the owner or harborer.
[Amended 5-21-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-05]
C. At the end of 10 days, the owner or keeper of the cat shall have
the unvaccinated cat reexamined by a veterinarian and a written report
of the cat's state of health sent to the Township Council and/or any
individual acting as an agent of the Township of Allamuchy.
[Amended 5-21-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-05]
D. Where the cat dies for any reason within the quarantine period, the
owner or keeper shall be responsible for obtaining the head of the
animal and transporting the head to the State Department of Health.
In lieu thereof, the owner may request that the Township transport
the head of the animal and shall pay the Township a fee of $100, which
will cover all transportation expenses incurred by the Township in
providing this service.
[Amended 4-20-1998 by Ord. No. 2-98]
A. No person shall permit or suffer any cat owned by that person to
run at large at any time within the limits of the Township of Allamuchy.
For purposes of this section, the term "running at large" shall be
defined to be the presence of a cat at any place except upon the premises
of the owner, if any. A cat shall not be considered to be running
at large if it is under the control of a person who is present and
physically able to control it.
B. The Animal Control Officer of the Township of Allamuchy, at the expense of the owner or in accordance with the procedures and fees established in §
85-14D hereof, shall apprehend or impound any cat:
(1) Which is running at large in the Township and is found off the premises
of the owner or person harboring the cat about which the Animal Control
Officer has received a complaint;
(2) Which is fierce, dangerous or has vicious propensities or which is
noticeably affected with rabies or which has been bitten by an animal
suspected of having rabies;
(3) Which is female and in season and found off the premises of the owner
or person harboring the cat about which the Animal Control Officer
has received a complaint; or
(4) Which is loud, disturbing and about which the Animal Control Officer
has received a complaint.
C. Jurisdiction; entry upon premises for seizure. The Animal Control
Officer or his agent or agents shall have the authority, where deemed
reasonably necessary by the Animal Control Officer or his agent or
agents, to enter upon any public or private property within the Township
in order to enforce the provisions of this article. Where the Animal
Control Officer or his agent or agents is in immediate pursuit of
any cat which may be lawfully seized and impounded under this article,
such person(s) shall have the authority to enter upon the premises
of the owner of such cat.
D. Any cat seized under this section shall be handled and disposed of
with proper notice given as required by N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16.
E. Exceptions. This section shall not apply to farm cats, as that term is defined in §
85-22 hereof.
[Amended 5-15-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-06]
Except as otherwise provided in this article, any person who violates or who fails or refuses to comply with this article shall be liable to a penalty according to the provisions of §
1-15, the general penalty provision, of the Township Code of the Township of Allamuchy.