As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
CARETAKER
A person who provides care for a feral cat colony, including
feeding, trapping, transporting for spay/neutering, transporting for
veterinary care as needed, and other actions needed for a healthy
feral cat colony in compliance with local ordinances and operating
procedures.
COLONIES
One or more feral cats that congregate, more or less, together
as a unit and share a common food source.
FERAL CAT
For the purposes of this article, shall mean any unowned
and homeless or stray cat.
SPONSOR ORGANIZATION
For the purpose of this article, a nonprofit organization
designated by the Township Committee that has expertise in organizing
and operating feral cat colonies and in working with volunteers to
conduct such feral cat colonies in a comprehensive healthful manner
in compliance with this article.
It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally provide
food, water or other forms of sustenance to a feral cat or feral cat
colony unless the person has been registered with the sponsoring organization
on forms to be provided by the sponsoring organization and the Township,
as a caretaker for feral cats.
In furtherance of the Township's program to control the proliferation
of feral cat colonies in the Township in a humane manner, persons
who are interested in documenting as a caretaker of feral cats shall
do so by executing a feral cat documentation form. By doing so, the
caretaker agrees to the following:
A. Assure responsibility and arrangements for feeding the cat or colony
regularly throughout the year, including weekends, holidays and absences
of the documented caretaker person(s).
B. Cooperate in the regular and frequent trapping of cats over the age
of 12 weeks to have them spayed or neutered and vaccinated against
rabies.
C. Arrange to have symptomatically ill or injured cats brought for veterinary
care.
D. Identify all trapped spayed/neutered cats by tipping their ears.
E. Arrange to have all cats vaccinated for rabies.
F. No feral cat feeding sites shall be located on house properties or
business properties located within 50 yards of a child-care center
or school.
G. Feral cat feeding stations shall not be located on the property of
any person or business without the approval of the property owner
and/or business.
H. Feral cat feeding sites shall not be located upon any public property
owned by the Township of Maplewood, the South Orange-Maplewood School
District or other governmental unit.
I. Food for feral cat colonies shall not be provided in a manner that
attracts cats not in the colony or provides food for rodents, raccoons
or other wild animals. Food shall be removed within one hour.
J. Persons who want to participate as caregivers shall attend a mandatory
training class operated by the sponsoring organization or other recognized
training organization, and this course shall be a prerequisite to
registration.
K. Each caretaker shall register with the Township Clerk, on a form
to be provided, annually.
L. Once registered, the Clerk will provide the caretaker a sticker designating
the caretaker as registered. The sticker is to be displayed prominently
on the property which is hosting the colony so that Township employees
will be able to recognize the caretaker as registered with the Township.
Any person, firm, corporation or other entity violating this
article shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a fine of:
C. Any subsequent offense: $500.