Township of Morris NJ - Ordinances

An ordinance to establish requirements for the proper disposal of pet solid waste in the Township of Morris, so as to protect public health, safety and welfare, and to prescribe penalties for failure to comply.

SECTION II. Definitions:

For the purpose of this ordinance, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings stated herein unless their use in the text of this Chapter clearly demonstrates a different meaning. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words used in the plural number include the singular number, and words used in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.

Immediate - shall mean that the pet solid waste is removed at once, without delay.
Owner/Keeper - any person who shall possess, maintain, house or harbor any pet or otherwise have custody of any pet, whether or not the owner of such pet.
Person - any individual, corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, or political subdivision of this State subject to municipal jurisdiction.
Pet - a domesticated animal (other than a disability assistance animal) kept for amusement or companionship.
Pet solid waste - waste matter expelled from the bowels of the pet; excrement
Proper disposal - placement in a designated waste receptacle, or other suitable container, and discarded in a refuse container which is regularly emptied by the municipality or some other refuse collector; or disposal into a system designed to convey domestic sewage for proper treatment and disposal. Disposal into a storm drain or stormwater system is strictly prohibited.

SECTION III. Requirement for Disposal:

All pet owners and keepers are required to immediately and properly dispose of their pet's solid waste deposited on any property, public or private, not owned or possessed by that person. On any property owned or possessed by that person, all pet owners and keepers are required to properly dispose of their pet's solid waste at a frequency of at least weekly or more frequently if necessary to prevent a public health nuisance.

SECTION IV. Exemptions:

Any owner or keeper who requires the use of a disability assistance animal shall be exempt from the provisions of this section while such animal is being used for that purpose.

SECTION V. Enforcement:

The provisions of this Article shall be enforced by the Police Department, Animal Control Officer and the Local Board of Health of the Township of Morris.

SECTION VI. Violations and Penalty:

Any person violating any provision of this Section shall be liable to a fine not less than Fifty Dollars ($50.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each offense, together with the costs of prosecution. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day or part of each day during which a violation occurs or continues.

SECTION VII. Severability:

Each section, subsection, sentence, clause and phrase of this Ordinance is declared to be an independent section, subsection, sentence, clause and phrase, and the finding or holding of any such portion of this Ordinance to be unconstitutional, void, or ineffective for any cause, or reason, shall not affect any other portion of this Ordinance.

SECTION VIII. Effective date:

This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption and any publication as may be required by law.

Adopted March 2, 2005