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Township of Toms River, NJ
Ocean County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[Adopted 5-20-2013 by Ord. No. 002-2013]
For the purpose of this article, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this section. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words in the plural number include the singular, words in the singular number include the plural, and words in the male gender include the female gender.
ABANDONED
That an owner or caregiver has forsaken a domesticated cat entirely, or has neglected or refused to provide care and support to the cat.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
Any person employed or appointed by the Township who is authorized to investigate violations of laws and regulations concerning animals, and to issue citations in accordance with New Jersey law and this Code.
CAREGIVER
Any person who provides food, water or shelter to or otherwise cares for a cat.
DOMESTICATED CAT
A cat that is socialized to humans and is appropriate as a companion for humans.
FERAL CAT COLONY
A group of cats that congregates, more or less, together as a unit. Although not every cat in a colony may be feral, any nonferal cats that congregate with a colony shall be deemed to be a part of it.
MANAGED CAT COLONY
Spaying and neutering the cats to stabilize the population of the feral cat colony.
NUISANCE
Disturbing the peace by:
A. 
Habitually or continually howling, crying or screaming; or
B. 
The habitual and significant destruction, desecration or soiling of property against the wishes of the owner of the property.
OWNER
Any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, trust, estate, or any other legal entity.
RESCUE GROUP
A for-profit or not-for-profit entity, or a collaboration of individuals with at least one of its purposes being the adoption or placement of cats in homes with humans to serve as companion animals.
STRAY CAT
A cat that is regularly off the property of the owner, is not under the physical control and restraint of the owner and is not regularly provided with food by its owner.
SUITABLE SHELTER
Shelter that provides protection from rain, sun, and other elements that is adequate to protect the health of the cat.
ZOONOTIC DISEASE
Those diseases transmittable to humans from animals, including parasitic, bacterial, fungal and viral diseases.
A. 
Owners of domesticated cats shall provide appropriate and adequate food, water and shelter for their cats.
B. 
The owner of a domesticated cat shall exercise reasonable care to guard against the cat creating a nuisance.
C. 
The owner of a sexually intact (not spayed or neutered) domesticated cat shall not permit his/her cat to roam unsupervised.
D. 
An owner shall not abandon a domesticated cat.
A. 
Any person who refuses or fails to comply with any provision of this article shall be liable for the following penalties:
(1) 
Not less than $50 for the first offense.
(2) 
Not less than $100 for the second offense.
(3) 
Not less than $150 for the third offense.
B. 
Except as otherwise provided in this article, any person who continues to fail or refuses to comply with this article shall be liable for subsequent penalties of not more than $2,000 or imprisonment or community service for no more than 90 days, at the discretion of any judge hearing a complaint brought pursuant to this article.