New Jersey § 4:19-15

§ 4:19-15.

a. The certified animal control officer appointed by the governing body of the municipality

shall take into custody and impound any animal, to thereafter be euthanized or offered

for adoption, as provided in this section: (1) Any dog off the premises of the owner or of the person charged with the care of

the dog, which is reasonably believed to be a stray dog; (2) Any dog off the premises of the owner or the person charged with the care of the

dog without a current registration tag on its collar or elsewhere; (3) Any female dog in season off the premises of the owner or the person charged with

the care of the dog; (4) Any dog or other animal which is suspected to be rabid; or (5) Any dog or other animal off the premises of the owner or the person charged with

its care that is reported to, or observed by, a certified animal control officer to

be ill, injured, or creating a threat to public health, safety , or welfare, or otherwise interfering with the enjoyment of property. b. If an animal taken into custody and impounded pursuant to subsection a. of this

section has a collar or harness with identification of the name and address of any

person, or has a registration tag, or has a microchip with an identification number

that can be traced to the owner or person charged with the care of the animal, or

the owner or the person charged with the care of the animal is otherwise known, the

certified animal control officer shall ascertain the name and address of the owner

or the person charged with the care of the animal, and serve to the identified person

as soon as practicable, a notice in writing that the animal has been seized and will

be liable to be offered for adoption or euthanized if not claimed within seven days

after the service of the notice. c. A notice required pursuant to this section may be served: (1) by delivering it

to the person on whom it is to be served, or by leaving it at the person's usual or

last known place of residence or the address given on the collar, harness, or microchip

identification; or (2) by mailing the notice to that person at the person's usual

or last known place of residence, or to the address given on the collar, harness or

microchip identification. d. A shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound receiving an animal

from a certified animal control officer pursuant to subsection a. of this section,

or from any other individual, group, or organization, shall hold the animal for at

least seven days before offering it for adoption, or euthanizing, relocating, or sterilizing

the animal, except if: (1) the animal is surrendered voluntarily by its owner to the shelter, pound, or kennel

operating as a shelter or pound, in which case the provisions of subsection e. of

this section shall apply; or (2) the animal is suspected of being rabid, in which case the provisions of subsection

j. of this section shall apply. e. If a shelter, pound or kennel operating as a shelter or pound is not required to

hold an animal for at least seven days pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection d.

of this section, the shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound: (1) shall offer the animal for adoption for at least seven days before euthanizing

it; or (2) may transfer the animal to an animal rescue organization facility or a foster

home prior to offering it for adoption if such a transfer is determined to be in the

best interest of the animal by the shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter

or pound. f. Except as otherwise provided for under subsection e. of this section, no shelter,

pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound receiving an animal from a certified

animal control officer may transfer the animal to an animal rescue organization facility

or a foster home until the shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound

has held the animal for at least seven days. g. If the owner or the person charged with the care of the animal seeks to claim it

within seven days, or after the seven days have elapsed but before the animal has

been adopted or euthanized, the shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or

pound: (1) shall, in the case of a cat or dog, release it to the owner or person charged

with its care, provided the owner or person charged with the care of the animal provides

proof of ownership, which may include a valid cat or dog license, registration, rabies

inoculation certificate , or documentation from the owner's veterinarian that the cat or dog has received regular

care from that veterinarian; (2) may, in the case of a cat or dog, charge the cost of sterilizing the cat or dog,

if the owner requests such sterilizing when claiming it; and (3) may require the owner or person charged with the care of the animal to pay all

the animal's expenses while in the care of the shelter, pound, or kennel operating

as a shelter or pound, not to exceed $4 per day. h. If the animal remains unclaimed, is not claimed due to the failure of the owner

or other person to comply with the requirements of this section, or is not adopted

after seven days after the date on which notice is served pursuant to subsection c.

of this section or, if no notice can be served, not less than seven days after the

date on which the animal was impounded, the impounded animal may be placed in a foster

home, transferred to another shelter, pound, kennel operating as a shelter or pound,

or animal rescue organization facility, or euthanized in a manner causing as little

pain as possible and consistent with the provisions of R.S.4:22-19 . i. At the time of adoption, the right of ownership in the animal shall transfer to

the new owner. No dog or other animal taken into custody, impounded, sent or otherwise brought

to a shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound shall be sold or otherwise

be made available for the purpose of experimentation. Any person who sells or otherwise makes available any such dog or other animal for

the purpose of experimentation shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. j. Any animal seized under this section suspected of being rabid shall be immediately

reported to the executive officer of the local board of health and to the Department

of Health , and shall be quarantined, observed, and otherwise handled and dealt with as appropriate

for an animal suspected of being rabid or as required by the Department of Health for the animals. k. When a certified animal control officer takes into custody and impounds, or causes

to be taken into custody and impounded, an animal, the certified animal control officer

may place the animal in the custody of, or cause the animal to be placed in the custody

of, only a licensed shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound. The certified animal control officer may not place the animal in the custody of,

or cause the animal to be placed in the custody of, any animal rescue organization

facility, foster home, or other unlicensed facility. However, the licensed shelter, pound, or kennel operating as a shelter or pound

may place the animal in an animal rescue organization facility, foster home, or other

unlicensed facility if necessary pursuant to subsection e. or h. of this section. l . Notwithstanding the provisions of this section and sections 3 and 4 of P.L.2011, c. 142 ( C.4:19-15.30 and C.4:19-15.31 ) to the contrary, no cat or dog being transferred between shelters, pounds, or kennels

operating as shelters or pounds, or being transferred to an animal rescue organization

facility or placed in a foster home, shall be required to be sterilized prior to that

transfer.