Washington Township, New Jersey (Warren County)

§ 66-1 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the meanings as indicated:

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KENNEL, COMMERCIAL

An establishment, licensed as a commercial kennel under this Code (Chapter 66), wherein or whereupon the business of boarding or selling dogs or breeding dogs for sale is carried on, except that a pet shop or veterinary office (as defined in this chapter) where dogs of licensing age are kept and maintained for any reason in one place or establishment shall not be deemed a commercial kennel.

§ 66-3 License and tag required; vaccination required.

A. Any person who shall have owned, kept or harbored a dog of licensing age in the township on or before January 31, 1994, and annually thereafter, in accordance with an annual dog license or renewal thereof issued pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.1 to 4:19-15.23 (inclusive) and N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.27, as well as any amendments and supplements thereto, shall apply for and procure from the Township Clerk a license and official metal registration tag for such dog so owned, kept or harbored and shall place upon each such dog a collar or harness to which the registration tag shall be securely fastened.

B. Kennels (commercial or noncommercial), pet shops, veterinary offices, shelters or pounds.

(1) Any person who keeps or operates or proposes to establish a kennel (commercial or noncommercial) shall apply to the Township Clerk of the township to license dogs for a license entitling him/her to keep or operate such establishment. The township will not issue a municipal license for any person who does not meet the following criteria:

(a) Any kennel to be licensed hereunder shall be so located, constructed, arranged and/or operated in such manner that it is not a nuisance as to noise, odors or other actions to the neighborhood and further in such manner that the dogs maintained therein cannot come in contact with other dogs not owned or maintained by the owner of the kennel.

(b) The application shall include a description of the premises as to zoning location, to be 80,000 square feet (R-80) or larger (R-120) for noncommercial kennels, and commercial zones for commercial kennels. The application shall also set forth where the establishment is located or is proposed to be located and the purpose(s) for which it is to be maintained. Such application shall be accompanied by the written approval of the Township Board of Health and the Township Zoning Officer showing compliance with local and state rules and regulations governing location of and sanitation of such establishments, as well as compliance with this Code.

(2) All licenses issued for a kennel (commercial and noncommercial) shall state the purpose for which the establishment is maintained, and all such licenses shall expire on the last day of January of each year. Said license shall be subject to nonrenewal only by the Township Committee, upon recommendation of the State Department of Environmental Protection and Energy (DEPE) or the Township Board of Health or the Township Planning Board or the Township Animal Control Officer, as applicable, for failure to comply with the rules and regulations of the applicable agencies/boards governing the same, after the owner has been afforded a hearing by the Township Committee.

(3) Any person holding a commercial license shall not be required to secure individual licenses for dogs owned by such licensee and kept at such establishment. Such kennel licenses (commercial or noncommercial) shall not be transferable to another owner or to different premises of the same owner.

(4) No dog in a kennel, pet shop, veterinary office, shelter or pound shall be permitted off such premises, except on a leash or in a cage or other safe control.

(5) A person must be at least 18 years of age with a valid ID to be named as an owner or one of the owners of the property/location of the facility.

(6) Neither the applicant nor any member of his or her immediate family may have been convicted of any form of animal cruelty.

C. No license shall be issued for any dog unless the owner applying for the license shall exhibit a licensed veterinarian’s certificate that the dog has been currently vaccinated against rabies, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.2a, as amended and supplemented, and that the rabies vaccine should extend throughout the period for which a license is being issued. The dog should also be vaccinated against distemper and parvovirus.

§ 66-4 Fees.

A. The person applying for the license and registration, except for noncommercial kennels, shall pay a fee of either $10 for a spayed and/or neutered dog(s) or $13 for a nonspayed and nonneutered dog(s) for a one-year license and one-year registration for each dog. For each renewal, the fee for the license and registration tag shall be the same as the original license and tag, and such license/registration tags and renewals thereof shall expire on January 31 of the year following the year the license/registration was issued consistent with the term of the license. In the event that said license and registration is applied for after February 1 of each year, an additional late fee of $5 per month will be charged. The noncommercial kennel license must be obtained before individual licenses/registrations can be issued. The fee for a duplicate dog license shall be $3 per duplicate.

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C. The annual license fees, including licensure/registration for each dog, are as follows:

(1) Kennels.