Lower Township, New Jersey

§ 166-2 License fee; surcharge fees; late fee; violations and penalties.

A. All dogs over the age of six months shall be required to be licensed, and a license for same shall be obtained and attached to the harness or collar of each dog prior to January 31 of each and every year. The fee for all dog licenses shall be $5 per year. Said fee includes a state registration fee of $1 and a state surcharge fee of $0.20 for the Pilot Clinic Fund and a Township Registration fee of $3.80. There will be an additional Township surcharge fee of $2 and state surcharge fee of $3 for all dogs of the reproductive age that are nonspayed or nonneutered, with state surcharges going into the Animal Population Control Fund, making the fee for nonspayed and nonneutered dogs $10 per year. The above surcharges do not apply to registered service dogs. Dog licenses shall be obtained from the Township Clerk. In addition, a late fee of $5 shall be added to the license fee after May 1 of each year, unless proof of new residency for a newly acquired dog is provided to the licensing official.

§ 166-3 Licensing of kennels, pounds, shelters and pet shops; fees; violations and penalties.

A. Any person or entity keeping, feeding, harboring, or caring for dogs for a fee or a profit or who charges for the maintenance, sheltering or keeping of dogs shall be considered for the purposes of this article as operating a kennel. All persons or entities operating a kennel, shelter, pound, or pet shop shall make application at the Township Clerk’s office for a license to operate said facility. All applicants must meet the local, county, and state requirements, after which Township Council must approve said license by resolution.

B. The license fee for a kennel having accommodations for 10 dogs or less shall be $10. The fee for a kennel license having accommodations for 11 or more dogs shall be $25. Shelters and pounds are exempt from the licensing fee, but shall meet all other requirements of this article.

C. The penalty, upon conviction, for violations of this section shall be $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second offense and $100 for each and every offense thereafter.