Cranbury cat owners: want your cats licensed?

[Guest]

Want your cats licensed?

Do you know that we have a Township Physician?

According to the minutes from the Board of Health meeting of March 3, 2008:

"Rabies Protocol – Cat Licenses – Mr. Longo provided a copy of Metuchen’s Code requiring
the licensing of cats.

Mr. Van Hise advised that he was informed that the Township Committee has previously
discussed, on several occasions, the possibility of implementing licensing for cats and has chosen
not to do so. Dr. Notterman feels that the data should be closely reviewed and, if the Board feels
strongly that cats should be licensed, a recommendation should be made to the Township
Committee that an Ordinance be adopted requiring same.

After much discussion, it was decided that Pari Stave, the Board of Health Liaison from the
Township Committee, will be invited to attend a Board of Health meeting to hear a presentation on
the advantages of having cats licensed.

Mr. Van Hise will look for samples of ordinances from other municipalities. It was thought
that Hightstown Borough, Metuchen and Lawrenceville have such ordinances.

Mr. Van Hise provided copies of the “Resolution Adopting an Informational Guide
Concerning Rabies” which was adopted at the February meeting. The Secretary will distribute
same in accordance with the Resolution. When questioned, Mr. Thorne advised the Board that his
only concern with the requirements of the Resolution is that the police come when a rabid animal is
found.

Mr. Thorne provided the Board with a list of equipment that he currently has to aid in the
trapping/picking up of animals, all of which is kept at the Public Works Garage. When asked what
additional equipment was needed, Mr. Thorne expressed his desire to have a paint ball gun to mark
animals which need to be trapped; therefore, allowing him to be certain the correct animal is caught.

The Board of Health will write a memorandum in support of the purchase.

The Animal Control Officer’s vaccinations need to be kept current, including Hepatitis B and
tetanus. Dr. Lupovici, the Township Physician, should administer the necessary vaccinations. Mr.
Thorne advised that he spoke to Dr. Lupovici’s office and was told he would not administer the
vaccinations. Chairwoman Coyle will contact Christine Smeltzer, the Township Administrator, to
have her contact Dr. Lupovici directly. If Dr. Lupovici will not provide the vaccinations, Dr.
Notterman will find someone who will and contact Robert Wood Johnson for the cost.
...
Needs Assessment – Mr. Van Hise has not yet received a response to his inquiry as to what
funding the Township provides to the First Aid Squad. Mr. Van Hise should also find out what the
funding is used for.

An inquiry should also be made as to the specific duties of the Township Physician."

http://www.cranburytownship.org/BOH_minutes_March_3_2008.pdf

[Guest]

Another money grab. My cats are house cats that don;t get out and if they do they are chipped. what kind of cause or justification would there be for the enforcement or requirement of a license?

[Guest]

Licensing our cats is outrageous - cranbury is still a farming community with responsible land owners who rely on their outdoor cats to catch the field mice, moles, and to keep out other pests from their fields. They properly vaccinate and spay and neuter when needed. Plus they use their own trusted veterinarian - Do we really need a town animal doctor? This is another way that the township is collecting and spending more of our hard earned cash. Shame on Pari Stave!

[Guest]

Watch out Cranburians - they will what you to license your goldfish next.

[Guest]

We still have wild animals in the area that our more capable of spreading diseases - such as raccoons, skunks, ground hogs, possums, deer, etc. Pari should not waste her time on cats and focus how good of a job are we doing to protect the wildlife from spreading these diseases while balancing the wildlife/human interaction.

[Guest]

"Mr. Longo (Middlesex County Public Health Department) reported that 28 letters were sent to owners of non-licensed dogs prior to the rabies clinic. To date, three registrations have been received. The board agreed that owners would be given to January to respond. At that time a second and final notice would be sent to owners giving them 15 days to respond. Late fees will be assessed. Subsequent follow-up with non-licensed owners would involve issuance of a summons as necessary."

Every cat owner whether it's indoor/outdoor or just an indoor cat would have to follow the same rules as for dogs. What next, will they have a leash law for them too?

[Guest]

How long until we see a closed session of the Township Committee to discuss a tax on toilet paper?

[Guest]

Please don't. They are so cute!

[Guest]

Let me get this straight - they want everyone in this town to licence their cats? This town is getting a little crazy - what if we dont - who is going to really find out if we have cats in our houses? They are not like dogs - you dont take them for a walk. So really who is ever going to know? Its time to get out of this town - it seems like you cant do ANYTHING anymore - I have lived here my whole life and its ashame what is happening. People have way to much time on their hands and need to get a life. I will not licence my cat - I own my house and this township has NO RIGHT to do anything about if I own 1 to 100 cats. ITS MY HOUSE!!!!!!!!

[Cranbury Conservative]

Leaving the town is not the answer. The answer is to keep talking about topics like this so there is discussion and everyone starts to realize where this township committee has and is taking this community. Then you and everyone else needs to get out and vote for a change on the committee at election time. It can happen!

[Guest]

Let's license our gerbils and guinea pigs also. Maybe we need more money to preserve some more land.

[Michael]

NO!

[Guest]

I guess it's time to bring this discussion back!

[Guest]

From the BOH December minutes

Rabies Protocol - Cat Licenses
• A copy of the Ordinance adopted by South Brunswick Township in 1988 was provided. This Ordinance was enacted as a result of a rabid raccoon. – Mr. Stephen Papenberg, Health Officer of South Brunswick Township and Treasurer of the New Jersey Local Boards of Health, spoke to the Board regarding cat licensing. Mr. Papenberg provided the following information:
• An average of 18-20 rabid cats per year are found within the State of New Jersey. So far this year there have been 15 rabid cats. There have only been five (5) rabid dogs within the State over the past 25 years.
• An Ordinance could allow for the waiver of fees in certain instances.
• The South Brunswick Ordinance excludes non-domesticated cats located upon farmlands. These cats were excluded because farm cats are not necessarily among the population.
• An emphasis needs to be made that licensing is mainly to provide proof of rabies vaccine.
• Another positive fact is that cat licensing would allow a lost and picked up cat to be returned to its owner.
• A problem with the catch, neuter and release program is that an initial rabies vaccine is
Board of Health Meeting December 1, 2008
APPROVED MINUTES Page 2 of 3
only valid for one (1) year and it is extremely difficult to re-catch and/or verify vaccination of such cats. Another problem with this program is a liability issue; specifically, who becomes the responsible party for the program, for vaccinations, for any injury caused by cats within the program, etc.
• Approximately 1/3 of municipalities within the State have cat licensing ordinances. South Brunswick Township has approximately a 60% compliance rate.
• The State Department of Health, Office of Animal Welfare, supports and would like to see enacted a statewide licensing requirement.
• The major educational push in support of the ordinance is that if a cat is infected, it has a six (6) month quarantine period or it must be euthanized.
• For more information, the Township could consider a presentation, which includes experts such as David Papi, Director of the Middlesex County Public Health Department, and/or Dr. Michael Young, Township Veterinarian. The presentation should raise awareness of rabid raccoons and bats being found in Cranbury.
An issue was raised regarding the danger of cats wearing collars with tags. Dr. Notterman suggested that, as part of any Township program, cat owners could be provided with the opportunity to have digital photographs of their cat(s) placed with the licensing records for identification purposes. The Board discussed the best way to involve the Cranbury Township Committee in the issue. Pari Stave, Township Committee Liaison, will be contacted. Mr. Van Hise indicated that the Board, via its Chair, could attend a Committee meeting with experts to present information for feedback. Mr. Papenberg suggested that the Chairwoman send a memorandum to the Township Committee attaching a copy of a model ordinance and asking for comments. Dr. Notterman opined that the memorandum should also include specific provisions being considered by the Board, i.e. fee waiver provision, no collar option, digital photograph consideration, etc. The Board of Health should ask David Papi and Dr. Michael Young for recommendations and letters of support. A question was raised if the Board could designate where the money collected from the licensing fees could be applied, i.e. for animal control, upkeep of the database, etc. General information regarding rabies will be put in the Township’s newsletter. Jessica Smith will provide something from the Middlesex County Public Health Department.

[Guest]

From the October BOH minutes



Rabies Protocol - Cat Licenses – Chairwoman Coyle met with Christine Smeltzer, Township Administrator, and received preliminary approval to move forward. Money for the revision of the Animal Ordinance and implementation of licensing for cats will be included in the budget for 2009. Michael Melchionne, President of the New Jersey Certified Animal Control Officers Association and
Board of Health Meeting October 6, 2008
APPROVED MINUTES Page 2 of 3
author of “The Time is Now for Cat Licensing” will be invited to speak at a future Board of Health meeting. The Township Committee will also be invited to attend. The information will then be presented by the Board at a Township Committee meeting. The Board will address the jurisdictional issues of the Ordinance with the Township Committee at the same time.

[Guest]