Did Hoboken See More Dogs Registered In 2020?

HOBOKEN, NJ — With more people staying home and working remotely during the pandemic, pet adoption centers and breeders have seen an increase in demand for pets. But the numbers in Hoboken don't reflect more puppies invading the mile-square city — at least, not yet.

City Health and Human Services Director Leo Pellegrini said that in terms of dog licenses in Hoboken, these are the totals for 2020 and the previous years:

• 2020: 668 dogs registered
• 2019: 804 dogs registered
• 2018: 741 dogs registered

People must re-register their dogs each year by May 1, and must register all dogs ages 7 months or older.

The downward trend in licenses may seem surprising; in fact, the demand for pets has been so high nationwide that New Jersey residents have lost thousands of dollars in online "puppy scams." (Read more: Second Westfield Resident Conned In Puppy Scam.)

But at the same time, scores of Hoboken residents left the city during the pandemic. (There are currently 467 rental listings on Zillow.)

Pellegrini speculated that the numbers may have dropped, in part, because "Spring of 2020 is when the pandemic hit full force and that is when licensing begins" (as they are renewed each year in May).

Pellegrini also noted that some families went to their second/vacation homes.

He said the city will be launching an online licensing system in spring, which should increase the ease of registering.

"I believe with the new online process and more enforcement, we could see a drastic increase," Pellegrini said.

Rules about licensing...and that other thing

Puppies seven months of age or older "or possessing a permanent set of teeth" must have a current Hoboken Health Department license.

The registration tag must be securely attached to the dog's collar or harness. Find out more Hoboken dog information, as well as animal cruelty laws, here.

And what about doggie-do, that perennial complaint of the city's pedestrians?

While complaints about puppy poo in the snow have recently been deposited on community Facebook pages, residents have passionately complained about this situation for decades: see here, here, and especially here.

The fines are steep, however, for allowing a dog to soil Hoboken property without the owner at least trying to scoop:

(1) A fine of not more than $1,000, except with respect to a violation of § 93-16, which shall have a minimum fine of $100 and a maximum fine of $2,000; and/or

(2) Community service for a period not more than 90 days or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days.

Read more about those fecal matters here.

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