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Ordinances

TOWNSHIP OF VERNON
ORDINANCE #06-23

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE VERNON TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, CHAPTER 148, ANIMALS, SECTION 148-27, CUSTODY, IMPOUNDING AND DISPOSAL OF ANIMALS AND SECTION 148-31, CATS DEFINED AS PUBLIC NUISANCE; IMPOUNDING

BE IT ORDAINED by the Township Council of the Township of Vernon, County of Sussex, State of New Jersey that;

1. Section148-27, Custody, Impounding and Disposal of Animals shall be amended by deleting the current text in its entirety and inserting the following sections:

2. New Section 148-27A. Any dog off the premises of the owner or of the person keeping or harboring the dog may be impounded and disposed of in accordance with and pursuant to N.J.S.A 4:19-15.16 et seq. and N.J.S.A. 4:19-18 et seq.

3. New Section 148-27B. Any cat or other domestic animal which the Animal Control Officer or other authorized person has reason to believe is a stray or unowned animal may be impounded and disposed of in accordance with and pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16 et seq. and N.J./S.A. 4:19-18 et seq.

4. New Section - 148-27C. Any cat or other domestic animal off the premises of the owner or of the person keeping or harboring the cat or other domestic animal which the Animal Control Officer or other authorized person has reason to believe is the owner and which is suspected to be rabid, ill, injured, a threat to public health or safety or damaging public or private property may be impounded and disposed of in accordance with and pursuant to to N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16 et seq. and N.J./S.A. 4:19-18 et seq.

5. New Section 148-27D. If the owner of an animal transfers ownership of the animal to Vernon Township and pays all fees required under township ordinance, the Animal Control Officer my take the animal into custody from the owner's property and impound and dispose of the animal in accordance with and pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16 et seq. and N.J./S.A. 4:19-18 et seq.

6. New Section 148-31C. Any cat with a known owner or custodian shall be considered a public nuisance and shall be subject to section 148-27C custody, impounding and disposal of animals if it trespasses upon and damages either private or public property; or if it bites, scratches or harms persons within the township

7. Section 148-31B shall be amended as follows: Any cat off the premises of the owner or the person keeping or harboring the cat and constituting a public nuisance as defined in section 148-31A shall be impounded according the Section 148-27C, custody, impounding and disposal of animals.

8. Section 148-31A shall be amended as follows: Any cat with no known owner or custodian shall be considered a public nuisance and shall be subject to Section 148-27B, custody, impounding and disposal of animals if it has no known place of care or shelter; or if it trespasses upon and damages either private or public property; or if it bites, scratches or harms persons within the township.

9. New Section 148-31D. Any cat with no known owner constituting a public nuisance as defined in Section 148-31A shall be impounded according to Section 148-27B, custody, impounding and disposal of animals.

10. All ordinances or parts of ordinances or resolutions that are in conflict with the provisions of the Ordinance are repealed to the extent necessary.

11. If any article, section, subsection, term or condition of this Ordinance is declared invalid or illegal for any reason, the balance of the Ordinance shall be deemed severable and shall remain in full force and effect.

12. This ordinance shall take effect after publication and passage according to law.

NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the above ordinance was introduced and passed on first reading at the Regular Meeting of the Township Council of the Township of Vernon in the County of Sussex, State of New Jersey held in the Municipal Building on July 10, 2006 and the same came up for final passage at the Regular Meeting of the Township Council held on July 24, 2006, at which time, after persons interested were given an opportunity to be heard concerning said ordinance, the same was passed and will be in full force in the Township according to law.

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JANET E.MORRISON, MAYOR

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PATRICIA A. LYCOSKY, R.M.C.
TOWNSHIP CLERK