[Adopted 5-20-2013 by Ord. No. 001-2013]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Rendered permanently incapable of reproduction as certified
by a licensed veterinarian.
Any cat of the domestic feline species; male, female or altered.
Any cat which has attained the age of seven months or which
possesses a set of permanent teeth.
Any room or group of rooms, cage or exhibition pen, not part
of a kennel, wherein cats for sale are kept or displayed.
Every person having a right of property (or custody) in any
cat and every person who has a cat in his keeping or who harbors or
maintains a cat or knowingly permits a cat to remain on or about any
premises occupied by that person. The owner of a cat shall be considered
the initial owner of its kittens.
Any individual, corporation, partnership, organization or
institution commonly recognized by law as a unit.
Any cat of licensing age without a current registration tag,
visible tattoo or identification marking approved by the Animal Control
Officer or a collar or harness inscribed thereon or attached thereto
the name and address of the owner.
A.
No person shall abandon any cat, no matter what its age or condition,
within the Township of Toms River.
B.
No person shall keep, provide care for or harbor any cat in the Township
of Toms River except in compliance with the provisions of this article.
C.
No person owning or having the care, custody or control of any cat
shall suffer or permit such cat to:
(1)
Soil or defile or do any injury or damage to any lawn, vegetable
garden, shrubbery, trees, flowers, grounds or any property of any
persons other than that of the owner of the cat or person having the
care, custody or control of such cat.
(2)
Cause any injury to any person.
(3)
Trespass upon any public property or any private property without
the permission of the owner thereof.
(4)
Create excessive odors, unsanitary conditions or nuisances.
(5)
Be or become a public health nuisance or create a condition hazardous
to safety and health.
D.
No person shall place food intended or suitable for consumption by
a cat in any location out of doors unless such food is for a licensed
cat or dog which is regularly kept, harbored or maintained on the
premises where such food is placed, and if the person placing such
food is not the owner of the cat or dog, then only if the owner of
the same consents to such feeding and unless such food is removed
within two hours after placement, and in no event shall such food
be allowed to remain out of doors more than 30 minutes after sunset
and before sunrise.
E.
Every person owning, keeping or harboring or in control of a cat
shall be responsible to immediately pick up, remove, and dispose of
in a sanitary manner approved by the Township of Toms River Board
of Health all feces deposited by said cat on any sidewalk, passageway,
bypath, play area, park or upon any public property whatsoever or
upon any private property.
F.
Any person owning, keeping or harboring any cat or dog, whether the
same is licensed or unlicensed, who shall allow the same to run at
large in or about the streets, highways or public places of the Township
or to run at large upon lands and premises of any person other than
the owner or persons in possession of the same without permission
of the landowner first obtained in writing shall be guilty of a violation
of this chapter.
Any person who shall abandon or leave uncared for any cat upon
the streets, highways, alleys or other public places in the Township
or upon lands and premises owned or occupied by any person other than
the owner or person in possession of such cat shall be guilty of a
violation of this chapter. It shall also be unlawful for any person
to abandon or leave without proper care any cat even though it be
left abandoned upon a lot and premises owned or occupied by the person
in possession of such cat.
No cat kept in a pet shop shall be permitted off such premises
except on a leash or in a crate or other safe control.
No person owning, keeping or harboring any cat shall allow the
same to be upon the public streets or in any public place of the Township
unless accompanied by a person of such age and such mental and physical
capabilities that he or she is able to control and restrain such cat
from harming or injuring any person or property.
The Animal Control Officer of the Township shall take into custody
and impound or cause to be taken into custody and impounded and, thereafter,
destroyed or offered for adoption as provided in this section:
A.
Any cat off the premises of the owner of the person keeping or harboring
said cat which said official or his agent or agents have reason to
believe is a stray cat.
B.
Any cat off the premises of the owner or of the person keeping or
harboring said cat without a current registration tag on its collar.
C.
Any cat or other animal which is suspected to be rabid.
D.
Any cat or other animal off the premises of the owner reported to
or observed by the Animal Control Officer of the Township to be ill,
injured or creating a threat to public health, safety or welfare or
otherwise interfering with the enjoyment of property.
A.
The provisions of this article shall be enforceable by the Township
Health Officer or his designee, Animal Control officers employed or
contracted by the Township and any Township police officer.
B.
It shall be unlawful for any person to hinder, molest or interfere
with anyone authorized to enforce the provisions of this article.
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.
