Summer And Pets: What Owners Needs To Know In Basking Ridge

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — The Bernards Township Animal Control Officers are offering these tips to keep your pets safe during the summer months.

During the summer months, pets tend to spend more time outdoors. As a reminder, be sure to always have your 2017 Bernards Township license tag attached to your pet’s collar. This allows animal control officers to identify and return your pets safely home should they get lost or leave their property. It’s also very important to never leave your animals inside of a parked vehicle.

On a hot day, a parked car can become a furnace within minutes even with the windows open — which could lead to fatal heat stroke. Leaving pets unattended in cars is illegal in several states including New Jersey. It is better to keep your pets home and inside during extreme weather conditions.

The following regulations are meant to protect the health and safety of the public and their pets:

• 5-8.2 All dogs to wear current year license tag
• 5-8.4 Interference with Official Duties. No person shall interfere with anyone authorized or empowered to perform any duty under this chapter. (Ord. #137)
• 5-8.5 Disturbing the Peace. No person shall own, keep, harbor or maintain any dog which habitually barks or cries in such a manner as to disturb any other person, particularly between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. (Ord. 8/20/68)
• 5-8.6 Running at Large. No person owning, keeping or harboring any dog shall permit it to run at large upon the public streets, in any public park, in any public building or in any other public place within the township, nor shall any such person permit it to run at large upon the lands of another without his permission. (Ord. #137, Ord. #376)
• 5-8.7 Leashing of Dogs. No person owning, keeping or harboring any dog shall permit it to be upon the public streets or any of the public places of the township unless such dog is accompanied by a person capable of controlling it and is securely confined and controlled by an adequate leash not more than six (6’) feet long. (Ord. #137)
• 5-8.8 Property Damage. No person owning, keeping or harboring a dog shall permit it to do any injury, or to do any damage to any lawn, shrubbery, flowers, grounds or property. (Ord. 8/20/68)
• 5-8.9 Removal of Dog Feces. No dog owner shall permit a dog to soil, defile, defecate on or commit any nuisance on any common thoroughfare, sidewalk, passageway, by path, play area, park or any place where people congregate or walk, or upon any public property whatsoever, or upon any private property without the permission of the owner, without having such feces immediately removed and disposed of by the dog owner by any sanitary method approved by the Animal Control Officer. (Ord. #771)

Note: If your dog or cat is injured and without identification, the Animal Control Officer is required by law to seek medical treatment. The cost incurred for treatment will be the owner’s responsibility.

If you have any questions contact Michelle Santoro, Bernards Township Animal Control Officer Msantoro@bernards.org or 908-204-3066.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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