Committee considers cat code
BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer

MANALAPAN - The licensing of cats and revisions to Manalapan's current dog licensing ordinance will be before the Township Committee this week for a public hearing and possible adoption by the governing body.

The introduction of the ordinance followed an address several weeks ago to the governing body from township health officer David Richardson.

At the time, Richardson suggested that not only should the licensing period and fee schedule for dog licenses be extended and increased, but also that officials should look into the possibility of requiring cats to be licensed.

When the ordinance was introduced by the committee on Nov. 28 it provided for the licensing of cats and dogs.

The annual licensing fee for a dog that has not been spayed or neutered will be $15. The annual licensing fee for a dog that has been spayed or neutered will be $12.

The annual fee for a cat that has not been spayed or neutered will be $10. The annual licensing fee for a cat that has been spayed or neutered will be $7.

Residents who own more than one cat will pay $4 for each additional cat license.

Noting that historically no municipality has ever really addressed the issue of requiring licenses for cats, Richardson said it costs Manalapan $100 to take a cat that has been found running loose to a regional kennel. If the owner does not ask for the cat to be returned, the cost for the care of the animal falls to the township, Richardson said.

According to Richardson, a dog that has been found to be running loose costs the township $70 to take to the regional kennel.

Richardson also said that since the state had recently lifted a cap that had been in place for 15 years, Manalapan officials were now able to adopt an ordinance that would help to defray some of the township's animal control costs. The 15-year-old cap restricted what towns were permitted to charge for dog licenses.

According to Richardson, Manalapan spends about $55,000 each year in animal control costs. The prevention of rabies is the foundation for requiring pets to be licensed.

Pet owners will be given the option of obtaining a one-year license or a threeyear license for their pet.

Also scheduled for the committee's Dec. 12 meeting is a public hearing and adoption of an ordinance that will provide $75,000 for the rejuvenation of Thompson Grove Park, Thompson Grove Road, on the south side of Manalapan.

Work to be done at the park will include the installation of a stone road, parking areas, wood chip walking paths and an open-grass area.