[Adopted 12-16-2020 by Ord. No. BH 01-2020]
Any person who keeps or operates or proposes to establish a
kennel, a shelter, a pet shop or a pound shall apply to the Board
of Health for a license entitling him or her to keep or operate such
establishment.
The application shall accurately describe, in sufficient detail,
the premises where the establishment is located or is proposed to
be located, the purpose for which it is to be maintained, population
and type of all animals housed or intended to be housed, and shall
be accompanied by the written approval of the zoning officer and the
construction officer of the Township of Readington showing compliance
with all applicable local and state rules and regulations governing
the location, establishment, building, and sanitation of such operation.
The obligation of the applicant to provide complete and accurate
information in the application for said license is deemed an ongoing
and continuing obligation, so as to require the applicant to promptly
update the application no later than 30 days after discovering any
inaccuracy or change to the information set forth in said application.
All licenses issued for a kennel, pet shop, shelter or pound
shall state the purpose for which the establishment is maintained
and all such licenses shall expire annually on June 30 and be subject
to revocation by the Township on recommendation of the state Department
of Health or the Township Board of Health for failure to comply with
the rules and regulation of the state department or local board governing
the same after the owner has been afforded a hearing by either the
state or local board.
The annual license fee for a kennel or pet shop providing accommodations
for 10 or less dogs shall be $10; and for more than 10 dogs, $25.
No fee shall be charged for a shelter or pound.
Any person holding such license shall not be required to secure
individual licenses for dogs owned by such licensee and kept at such
establishment. Such license shall not be transferable to another owner
or different premises.
All pet shops and pet dealers shall comply with the provisions
of P.L. 2015, c. 07, as may be supplemented and amended, which, among
other things, require pet shops and pet dealers to provide specific
information to persons purchasing cats and dogs.
As required by P.L. 2015, c. 07, all pet shops shall be required
to submit annually, no later than May 1 of each year, a report to
the Township providing the following information:
A.
The name, full street address, email address, if available and United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) license number of:
(1)
Any breeder from which the pet shop purchased an animal, whether
or not the pet shop offered the animal for sale;
(2)
Any breeder that bred an animal that the pet shop purchased from
a broker, whether or not the pet shop offered the animal for sale;
(3)
Any broker from which the pet shop purchased an animal, whether or
not the pet shop offered the animal for sale.
Any person who violates any of the provisions of P.L. 2015, c. 07, or who violates or who fails or otherwise refuses to comply with the provisions of this chapter, shall be subject to the penalties prescribed by § 247-12, except to the extent that the person is liable and subject to the penalties set forth in N.J.S.A. 56:8-95.3. The person must provide the court with proof of license having been issued to prevent reoccurring liability, as set forth in § 247-12.2.
