Licensing Your Pet
(as of 1/1/2004 - fees are subject to change)

Dogs: 
$7.00 per dog / licensing fee ($500 for potentially vicious dogs)
$1.00 additional per dog forwarded to DHSS Rabies Trust Fund
$3.00 additional per unneutered dog
$0.20 additional per dog forwarded to DHSS The People for Animals, Inc. fee

Cats:
$8.00 per cat / licensing fee
$3.00 additional per unneutered cat

We are pleased to offer Senior Citizens a $2 license fee discount.

In the event that a dog / cat is not registered by January 31st, the Township Clerk imposes a $5.00 per month per pet late fee. (No late fee for new licenses.)

Lost license / lost tags may be replaced at an additional cost.

Who (is responsible)?
Each pet owner is individually responsible for their pet. It is the owner’s responsibility to make sure that their pet(s) are licensed, up-to-date on shots, safe, healthy, and do not cause harm to others. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services and/or the Animal Control Officer are on hand to answer any questions residents might have about their pets.

What (do I have to do)?
License your dog AND Cats. Dogs and cats may be licensed at the municipal building. ALL dogs and cats (regardless if they go outside or not) MUST be licensed. Keep up-to-date on rabies shots. The Township of North Brunswick holds a rabies clinic once a year in January. Pet owners are welcome to bring their pet to a scheduled clinic. Owners also have the option of getting their pets vaccinated through a veterinarian of their choice.

Report bites. 
State law requires that all animal bites be reported to the local department of health, which serves as the lead agency for rabies control activities. Situations are handled on a case-by-case basis, but to ensure the safety of your pet and others, a pet owner should do everything in their power to raise a kind, gentle animal.

Leash your pet. 
It is unlawful to let your pet run at large and pets that do so may be impounded.

Keep it clean. 
It is the duty of each pet owner to remove any feces left by his dog on any sidewalk, gutter, street or other public area. No person owning, keeping or harboring a pet shall permit or suffer it to do any injury or damage to any lawn, shrubbery, flowers, grounds or property of another.

Keep things quiet. 
It is unlawful to keep a dog which, by loud or frequent or habitual barking, yelping or howling, causes serious annoyance to the neighborhood or to the people passing on the streets.

Keep it calm. 
It is unlawful to torture, torment, deprive of necessary sustenance, unnecessarily or cruelly beat or otherwise abuse, or needlessly mutilate or kill a living animal or creature. This includes, but is not limited to, failure to provide proper food, drink, shelter, or protection from the weather, or to leave an animal in a vehicle under inhumane conditions adverse to the health or welfare of the living animal or creature.

Where (to go)?
Animal licensing occurs at the Government & Community Complex, located at 710 Hermann Road in North Brunswick. This is also the location for township-sponsored rabies clinics. Should your pet be impounded, it will be taken to T. Blumig Kennels in East Brunswick. All fines and licensing fees must be paid to North Brunswick prior to pick-up.

When?
Any person who shall own, keep or harbor a dog of licensing age shall, in the month of January of each year, apply for and procure from the Clerk of the township a license and official metal registration tag for each dog so owned, kept or harbored, and shall place upon each dog a collar or harness with the registration tag securely fastened thereto. The owner of any newly acquired pet of licensing age, or of any pet which attains licensing age, shall make application for license tag or sleeve for such pet within 10 days after such acquisition or age attainment. This requirement will not apply to a nonresident keeping a cat within the Township of North Brunswick for no longer than 90 days.

Why (should I)?
Simply put, residents should abide by all township code because it is the law. Failure to comply could result in significant fines, termination or ownership, jail time, or physical harm to others. Being a pet owner is a serious responsibility and should be considered such. Animals have rights. The DPRCS Animal Control Officer is authorized to enforce the laws of the township and acts to enforce the rights of animals. The staff is available to assist with questions regarding payment and procedure. Please feel free to contact the Department Parks, Recreation and Community Services at (732) 247-0922 x 475 with questions.

Wildlife

The North Brunswick Animal Control Officer will respond immediately to wildlife calls when the animal is in the residential living area. For wildlife in non-living areas (i.e. the attic or chimney), residents are advised to call a private exterminator.

The Animal Control Officer does not pick up stray cats. If a resident has a trapped cat, the Animal Control Officer will respond within 24 hours.

The Animal Control Officer will respond immediately to dogs running at large.

The Animal Control Officer does not respond to reports of loose wildlife in a resident's yard. Residents are advised to trap the bothersome animal if desired (loaner traps are available through the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services). Please be advised that the Animal Control Officer is prohibited by law pick up/relocate trapped wildlife. Residents desirous of removal of the animal should call an exterminator. If called, the Animal Control Officer can assist in releasing the trap animal on the owner's property only. 

Residents who have been subject to an animal bite (wild or domestic) are to call the emergency number immediately.

Things to Know
It is illegal to feed stray animals.
Do not approach wildlife or stray animals. Many animals carry serious diseases.
Animal neglect and cruelty is punishable by law.
The Animal Control Officer is authorized to write summonses.