Laurel Springs, New Jersey

§ 76-1 Definitions.

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

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BREEDER

Any person who causes or allows the breeding of a male or female dog or cat. “Breeder” shall not apply to a person who owns an unneutered female cat or dog that has borne one litter since the enactment of this article if that cat or dog is spayed subsequent to the birth of that litter so as to prevent further litters.

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KENNEL

Any establishment wherein or whereon the business of boarding or selling dogs or breeding dogs for sale is carried on, except a pet shop.

§ 76-14 Licensing of dogs and cats; maximum number of dogs permitted; tags metal registration tag required; placing tag on dog or cat; wearing tag; lost tag or registration certificate.

B. Any person residing in the Borough of Laurel Springs who shall own, keep or harbor a dog or cat of licensing age shall annually apply for and procure from the Clerk of Borough of Laurel Springs or other official designated by the governing body thereof to license dogs and cats, a license and official metal registration tag for each such dog or cat so owned, kept or harbored.

§ 76-16 License and registration fees; expiration date of license and registration; other fees.

C. For each neutered and unneutered dog licensed, the municipality shall collect and forward $1.20 to the State of New Jersey pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.

D. For each unneutered dog licensed, the municipality shall collect and forward an additional $3 to the State of New Jersey for deposit in the Animal Population Control Fund pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.3b.

§ 76-23.3 License fees for pet shops; no shelters, pounds or kennels permitted.

The annual license fee for a pet shop shall be $100. No kennels, shelters or pounds are permitted within the limits of the Borough of Laurel Springs. Additional permit and fees shall be required for facilities that breed cats or dogs as described in this article. No dog kept in a pet shop shall be permitted off such premises, except on leash or in a crate or other safe control.

§ 76-23.6 Breeding permits; administration.

A. Upon the enactment of this article, no person who owns, keeps or harbors an unneutered dog or cat shall cause or allow the production of more than one litter of puppies or kittens by any male or female dog or cat without first obtaining a breeding permit issued by the Borough of Laurel Springs. Such breeding permit is required in addition to any license, registration or permit required under by federal, state or municipal law.

B. The Borough of Laurel Springs shall administer a permit program to allow breeding of cats and dogs consistent with the criteria and according to the procedures contained in this article.

C. Each applicant who is issued a permit to breed cats or dogs under this section shall pay a breeding permit fee of $100 per year for owning, keeping or harboring one unneutered female that has already borne one litter since the enactment of this article and/or one unneutered male and one unneutered female.

D. Breeding permits shall be valid for 12 months, renewable on an annual basis. All breeding permits shall contain the following terms and conditions and be subject to the following requirements:

(1) No offspring may be sold or adopted and permanently placed until reaching an age of at least eight weeks.

(2) No offspring may be sold or adopted until immunized against common diseases (feline pan leukopenia, rhinotrachitis, calicivirus for cats; canine distemper, adenovirus type 2, parvovirus, Para influenza for dogs) or until they have begun a course of disease prevention under the direction of a State of New Jersey licensed veterinarian.

(3) Any permit holder advertising to the public the availability of any animal for adoption or sale must prominently display the permit number in any publications in which they advertise. Further, the permit number must be provided to any person adopting or purchasing an animal bred by the permit holder.

(4) The breeding permit holder shall adhere to minimum standards regarding the care and keeping of animals developed and approved by the State of New Jersey and this article.

(5) The permit holder shall submit to a yearly inspection by an Animal Control Officer, municipal health officer and/or code enforcement officer. In the event of a complaint or problem, inspection may occur every 30 days until the problem is resolved. The Borough of Laurel Springs may inspect daily or weekly if deemed necessary to protect the health and welfare of the animals or humans or in accordance with any judicial ruling if court proceedings are initiated.

(6) If within one year of placement a new owner becomes unable or unwilling to continue ownership and responsibility for an animal which is the offspring of a cat or dog of the permit holder, the permit holder shall assist in placement of the animal. If no suitable placement can be found within 30 days, the permit holder shall accept return of the animal and shall become fully responsible for its care.

§ 76-23.7 Application for and issuance of breeding permit.

The application shall include the name of the applicant, his or her residence address and telephone number, the address of the proposed location where the animals are to be kept if different from applicant’s address, and a description of the housing facilities for the keeping of the animals. No more than one unneutered male and unneutered female may be kept. The Borough of Laurel Springs may require the applicant to provide any other information it reasonably deems necessary to properly evaluate the application.

A. An application for a breeding permit shall include a signed statement from the applicant attesting that:

(1) Keeping of the animals at the proposed location will not violate any federal, state or local law;

(2) Appropriate facilities of sufficient size exist at the proposed location to safely and adequately secure, feed, house, exercise and maintain the animals;

(3) The proposed location consists of a lot or lots of sufficient size to safely and adequately house, maintain and exercise the animals without disturbance to adjacent property owners or the public;

(4) Possession and maintenance of the animals at the proposed location will not result in the animals being subject to neglect, cruelty, or abuse;

(5) The applicant has neither had any animal license or permit revoked nor been convicted of any violation of any provision of this article or any other state or local law pertaining to the maintenance and treatment of animals within the past five years;

(6) The keeping and maintenance of the animal will not create a public or private nuisance or endanger the public health, safety or welfare; and

(7) The keeping of the animals at the proposed location complies with all municipal zoning regulations.

B. The Borough of Laurel Springs may investigate or require any further information or documentation which would assist in determining whether the statements made by the applicant are correct and whether the permit should be issued.

§ 76-23.8 Breeding permit conditions.

A. Any permit issued under this article shall be made expressly subject to the following conditions:

(1) The permit holder shall provide veterinary care as needed and make every effort to keep all animals free of disease and parasites.

(2) The permit holder shall keep the animals’ living quarters clean and sanitary and shall provide sufficient food, sufficient water, appropriate exercise and proper shelter.

(3) Any structures housing animals shall be of a sufficient size to ensure the health, safety and comfort of the animals as per New Jersey law and shall be placed at least six feet from any property boundaries in residential areas.

(4) Any other conditions which the Borough of Laurel Springs or the Department of Health and Senior Services or the State of New Jersey are determines are reasonably necessary to protect the welfare of the animals kept or the public health, safety or welfare.

B. The breeding permit fee established under this article shall be paid by the applicant prior to issuance of the permit. Such fee shall be paid each time a permit is issued or renewed.

§ 76-23.9 Inspections relating to breeding permit.

A. The Borough of Laurel Springs or an Animal Control Officer or law enforcement officer may require any breeding permit holder to produce for inspection any required animal license, permit or certificate of vaccination.

B. The Borough of Laurel Springs or an Animal Control Officer or law enforcement officer may, with 48 hours’ notice to the permit holder, conduct such inspections of the premises upon which animals are kept under a breeding permit, as necessary to insure compliance with the conditions of the permit.

C. Such inspection of the premises may be on a yearly basis and/or may result from concerns stemming from the direct observations of an Animal Control Officer or law enforcement officer or upon a non anonymous complaint.

§ 76-23.10 Expiration and renewal of breeding permits.

A. Breeding permits issued under this article shall expire one year after issuance.

B. Breeding permits may be renewed on an annual basis upon filing of a new application containing updated information and payment of the annual breeding permit fee established by this article.

C. No breeding permit shall be renewed if the Borough of Laurel Springs or an Animal Control Officer or law enforcement officer has received two or more substantiated complaints concerning the location or manner of keeping of the animals or determines that the findings set forth in §§ 72-23.6 through 76-23.9 cannot be made or that any of the grounds for revocation described by § 76-23.11 of this article exist.

§ 76-23.11 Revocation of breeding permit.

A. Any breeding permit issued pursuant to this article may be revoked if an Animal Control Officer or law enforcement officer has reasonable cause to believe any of the following to be true:

(1) The permittee has violated any ordinances or statutes relating to the keeping, care or use of any animal, including, but not limited to, those contained in this article and those contained in the statutes of the State of New Jersey;

(2) The permittee is in violation of any state health or safety law or regulation regarding animal care or control;

(3) The permittee has failed to comply with any condition or requirement of the permit or has failed to pay any fee imposed under this code;

(4) The permittee refused to allow inspection, upon 48 hours’ written notice, of any animal covered by the permit or the premises on which the animal is kept;

(5) The permittee has transferred, sold or otherwise disposed of the animal for which the permit was issued;

(6) The permittee has acted in an inhumane or cruel manner in the treatment of animals;

(7) The permittee provided false information in the license application.

B. If, after inspection, an Animal Control Officer or law enforcement officer concludes that one or more of the above grounds for revocation has occurred, the officer may modify the terms of the permit or revoke the permit. The officer shall cause written notice thereof to be transmitted by mail to the address of the permittee. Said notice shall specify the grounds for modification or revocation of the permit.

C. The permittee may appeal the decision of the court to the County of Camden.

§ 76-23.24 Sterilization of animals being adopted.

A. An animal adopted, transferred or given away from any animal control facility, animal shelter or rescue organization or private individual in Camden County seeking to adopt, transfer, exchange, foster, give away or otherwise find a home for homeless or unwanted animals shall be sterilized by a veterinarian prior to the adoption. The animal shelter or rescue organization may require the new pet owner to pay for the cost of sterilization.

B. This requirement shall not apply when a veterinarian determines that sterilization would endanger the animal’s health due to its age, infirmity, disability or illness. In such case, the owner or adopter shall sign a written agreement that sterilization shall be performed as soon as health permits, or the veterinarian shall provide a written statement indicating that sterilization is not advised due to age or other concerns.

§ 76-23.26 Adoption Fee” option for unaltered cats and dogs impounded for being at large.

In lieu of paying the fees associated with impound [itemized above labeled Subsection B(a) through (d) in §76-23.25, Redemption by owner; owner to bear expenses], an owner or caregiver reclaiming an unaltered cat or dog that was impounded for being at large can choose to pay the equivalent of the municipality’s or pound’s adoption fee for dogs or cats. The adoption fee includes spaying/neutering, microchip and applicable vaccines. A dog adoption fee also includes a heartworm test.

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B. If an owner or caregiver chooses to reclaim his/her unaltered cat or dog, and if that animal is picked up for being at large three times in a calendar year, the animal is declared a public nuisance and neutering, at the owner’s expense, becomes mandatory.