With the registration deadline to license dogs and cats coming up on Wednesday, January 31st, Borough Clerk Andrew Casais took some time from his report during the January 18th municipal meeting to reiterate the state mandate regarding the vaccination of cats and dogs when it comes to licensing.
“When people are licensing their animals there’s a state requirement that your animal – your dog or cat – is vaccinated through October 31st of the current year. It causes a lot of problems and confusion,” stated Mr. Casais, “I cannot issue, and none of my staff in my office are legally allowed to issue a license to you unless that animal is vaccinated through October 31st of the current year. That is not a borough requirement, it is not something mayor and council can change, it is not something I can waive absent of your vet sending me a letter or writing a letter or faxing me a letter or giving you a letter to give to me that says that they will not vaccinate the animal for health reasons.”
New Jersey law NJSA 4:19-15.2a:
“No municipal clerk or other official designated by the governing body of any municipality to license dogs therein shall grant any such license and official metal registration tag for any dog unless the owner thereof provides evidence that the dog to be licensed and registered has been inoculated with a rabies vaccine of a type approved by and administered in accordance with the recommendations of the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, or has been certified exempt as provided by regulations of the State Department of Health. Such vaccination shall be repeated at intervals as provided by regulations of the State Department of Health, and shall be administered by a duly licensed veterinarian or by such other veterinarian permitted by law to do the same. The State Department of Health shall promulgate regulations providing for the recognized duration of immunity, interval of inoculation, certificate of vaccination, certificate of exemption, and such other matters related to this act.”
Additionally, New Jersey Administrative Code NJAC 8:23A-4.1 states:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in N.J.A.C. 8:23A-4.3, no municipal clerk or other official designated to license dogs shall grant any such license and official metal registration tag for any dog unless the dog owner provides evidence that the dog to be licensed and registered has been inoculated against rabies with a vaccine having duration of immunity which extends throughout at least ten of the 12 months of the licensing period. Dogs with a duration of immunity against rabies that expires prior to the tenth month of the licensing period shall be revaccinated prior to issuance of a license.
(b) The rabies inoculation required in (a) above shall be made by a duly licensed veterinarian. The vaccine used must be approved by the United States Department of Agriculture and administered to the animal at the dosage and route of administration in accordance with the specifications of the product label and package insert.
(c) The veterinarian immunizing the animal shall issue and sign a National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians Form #51, “Rabies Vaccination Certificate,” and shall arrange that the following information is typed or printed on the rabies certificate: the date of inoculation, the duration of immunity, the name and serial number of the product used, a description of the animal, the name and license number of the veterinarian, and the full mailing address of the owner. Computer-generated forms containing the same information, signature stamps, and electronic signatures are acceptable. The animal owner shall retain the certificate of inoculation and exhibit it to the animal licensing official of the municipality when application for a license is made.
Mr. Casais added, “I understand the frustration. I understand the confusion, and it’s not an intuitive thing, but it is not something that I’m allowed to waive in my capacity as a licensing agent for the borough. So, again, I apologize for the confusion and . . . anyone upset by it but there is really nothing that we can do to change that . . . The ladies in my office and myself are happy to work with you and sometimes, depending on the situation, even talk to your vet but it’s unfortunately just something that we have to deal with.”
The license fees for dogs and cats are listed below:
| LICENSE FEE TYPE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spayed / Neutered | ||
| Unspayed / Unneutered |
There is a $2 late fee for each dog and/or cat license not renewed every month after January. Residents who no longer have their dog or cat need to contact the Borough Clerk’s office to notify the municipality of the passing or loss of their pet(s).
Licenses can be purchased at the Borough Clerk’s office from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. The deadline for licensing is January 31, 2018