A new ordinance has been presented regarding animal regulations

Regulations regarding the number of dogs at a residence, inspections and fees were discussed at this week’s committee meeting.

Residents flocked to the municipal building once again for this week’s committee meeting to receive updates on the long-discussed animal ordinance.

Concerns were first raised by Ernest Lazos regarding a neighbor, Donna Roberts, who was holding 73 dogs on her property.

He has previously shared claims of the dogs crying throughout the night, and his attempts to resolve this issue led him to the township.

Roberts provided an update at the meeting, stating she implemented a fence around her property, she abides by the noise regulations and puts her dogs inside at night and lets them back out in the morning, and that she has adopted out three dogs since the last meeting — resulting in her ownership of now 70 dogs.

The previous ordinance presented will “die on the table,” meaning it will no longer be active, and a new ordinance has been introduced.

Mayor Michael Di Croce stated that since last month’s meeting, they have had multiple meetings to discuss all possible regulations and to take residents’ suggestions into consideration.

“We’ve had a productive time and productive meetings. I’ve gotten lots of emails, lots of calls, lots of letters,” Di Croce said. “We’ve got some good ideas and think we have tuned this ordinance so that it’s going to be a little more palatable for everyone.”

Township Solicitor Douglas Heinold reviewed the points of highest concern in regard to the new ordinance.

Heinold said if someone has zero to 14 dogs, there will be no new regulations impacting them. If they have 15 dogs, they have to register with the township and comply with inspections. There are initial inspections that everyone would undergo, and if they fail they would be subject to additional inspections.

Inspections will also be required if complaints are made. There is a fee associated with each inspection, except in an instance where a complaint is made and there no issues are found.

As presented in the ordinance, the number of 15 dogs has been selected as a per property number, not per person. It was also addressed that the number is for the total number of dogs, regardless of their gender or if they are intact or not intact.

Heinold said the base fee for licensing was raised from $10 per dog to $12 per dog, and there will be an additional fee of $3 if the dog is not spayed or neutered. There is an exception for service dogs, which are required to be licensed, but they do not have to pay a fee.

There is additional language in the ordinance stating there is a cap at 25 dogs in a non-commercial zone. There are currently no commercial zones in Shamong; however, if someone wanted to obtain more than 25 dogs they would have to gain commercial related approval.

Di Croce mentioned hobby breeders will be protected under the ordinance and that regardless of the number of dogs, if they are creating a nuisance appropriate action can be taken in municipal court.

“We have heard what you’re saying, we know that there’s an issue and we want to address it without being overbearing,” Di Croce said. “We want to make sure that everyone’s rights are protect and also the animals are protected.”

The full ordinance can be found on the Shamong township website. Second reading and public hearing will be held at the next meeting on Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the municipal building.

In other news:

● County Clerk Tim Tyler delivered a Killed in Action flag, which he stated he is hand-delivering to all 40 municipalities in the county, so they can be hung above government buildings as a way to honor and remember service members who lost their lives fighting for the United States.