Roxbury Township
Division of
Animal Control
72 Eyland
Avenue
Succasunna, NJ 07876
973 448-2028
The
Roxbury Township Rabies clinic has been moved from September to the first
Wednesday of November every year.
The
location has also been changed from the Horseshoe Lake Complex to Fire Company
#1 on Main Street Succasunna.
Susan Blanchard
N.J. Certified Animal Control
Officer
N.J. Certified Animal Cruelty
Investigator
Serving Roxbury Township since 2003
New Jersey Department of Health?s low cost spay and
neuter program is available if you qualify please click the link below:
http://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/spayneut.htm
Rabies Information
Rabies is a fatal disease of the central nervous
system that can affect all warm-blooded animals and is enzootic in New Jersey. Infection
occurs when saliva from an infected animal is introduced to a host via a bite
or a scratch. The infection may take up to six (6) months to become
symptomatic, once symptomatic it is untreatable. Infection may be prevented
after an exposure by undergoing Post-Exposure Rabies shots.
If your pet is bitten/wounded by an unknown animal
please contact your veterinarian and the health department as soon as possible.
To limit your possible exposure to this disease please make sure that all your
pets have a current vaccination and are licensed. Free vaccinations can be
obtained at clinics throughout the state, please see the ?Upcoming Clinics?
section for a current list.
All bites to humans by any animal must be reported to
the Health Department, for more information please clink
on the link below.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/
Bat Exposure
If you find a bat in the living area of your house
the animal must be tested for rabies. The only exception is if you actually see
the bat enter the house and you are positive that it did not come into contact
with anyone. Please follow the following procedures:
· If you witnessed the bat enter the house at night
1. open a window in the room
in which the bat is in
2. exit the room
3. close all doors entering
that room
4. seal the bottom of doors
with towel
· all other situations
1. close the bat in the room
2. exit the room
3. seal the bottom of doors
with towel
4. during business hours call
Roxbury Animal Control at 973 584-4372
5. after business hours or
on weekends call the Roxbury Police Department at 973 448-2100
Black Bear
Information
In the past few years there have been numerous black
bear sightings in the Landing section of Roxbury. The New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection has issued a warning to the residents of northern New Jersey about bear
proofing their premises. Please click on the link below to view the press
release.
http://www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/releases/03_0127.htm
For additional information on black bears, how to
co-exist with them and how to reduce human-bear interaction please click on the
link below.
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/bearinfo.htm
Top
of the Document
Dog & Cat Licensing
Please note that dog and cat license fees have been
raised for 2008, see the charts below for details.
All dogs & cats must be licensed:
· When they are over the age of 7 months
· Within 10 days of moving to Roxbury, dog licenses
from other New Jersey
municipalities are transferable with proof of the animal?s current licensure.
· By January 31st each year
In order to license you will need proof of a current
rabies shot. Current means the shot does not expire before November 1 of the
licensing year. If your animal?s shot does expire before November 1 please
have the animal revaccinated before attempting to license. There is a five (5)
animal limit per household.
Licenses must be physically received by this
department within a month to be charged that months
fee, licenses mailed in one month but not received until the following month
are subject to that months fee.
DOG FEES
Non-spayed/Neutered - $25
Late fees are assessed by the month starting in
February; please refer to the chart below.
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sept
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
|
$30
|
$32
|
$34
|
$36
|
$38
|
$40
|
$42
|
$44
|
$46
|
$48
|
$50
|
Spayed/Neutered - $22 (Please bring proof of spaying
or neutering)
Late fees are assessed by the month starting in
February; please refer to the chart below.
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sept
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
|
$27
|
$29
|
$31
|
$33
|
$35
|
$37
|
$39
|
$41
|
$43
|
$45
|
$47
|
2008 DOG LICENSE APPLICATION - http://www.roxburynj.us/DocumentView.asp?DID=467
CAT FEES
Non-spayed/Neutered - $15
Late fees are assessed by the month starting in
February; please refer to the chart below.
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sept
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
|
$20
|
$22
|
$24
|
$26
|
$28
|
$30
|
$32
|
$34
|
$36
|
$38
|
$40
|
Spayed/Neutered - $12 (Please bring proof of spaying
or neutering)
Late fees are assessed by the month starting in
February; please refer to the chart below.
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sept
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
|
$17
|
$19
|
$21
|
$23
|
$25
|
$27
|
$29
|
$31
|
$33
|
$35
|
$37
|
2008 CAT LICENSE APPLICATION - http://www.roxburynj.us/DocumentView.asp?DID=466
Failure to license will result in summonses being
issued for each animal not licensed
Lyme Disease
You can help prevent this debilitating disease by
following a few simple rules. Keep your lawn cut short, ticks like long
vegetation. Wear long pants and long sleeves and light colored clothes if you
are out in a wooded area. Ticks are easier to spot on light colored clothes.
Most importantly check yourself and your children after being outside, be
thorough, ticks are often found in areas where clothes come in close contact
with the skin, such as waistbands. Make sure to check your scalp! Also check
pets thoroughly when they return inside and consider applying a tick repellent
to product your dog or cat.
Click on this link for more information on Lyme Disease Prevention ?
http://www.shore.co.monmouth.nj.us/06270_mcmec/tickborn.pdf/
Wildlife
Issues
Relocation or Recondition?
A large majority of the complaints received from
residents involve nuisance wildlife. We first need to define the word
?nuisance.? The presence of wild animals on your property does not make them
nuisance animals. When a wild animal causes significant damage to a property or
structure we can then characterize that animal as a nuisance. Roxbury Township
is comprised of mostly rural and semi-rural areas. We have to be realistic
here; if you live near a lake or any body of water you have to expect waterfowl
on your property. In many of our more rural areas you can expect deer, fox,
raccoons, opossums, skunks, black bears and coyotes to be living among us. It
is safe to assume that at any given time some of these animals may visit your
property. Most people become alarmed when they see animals outside in the
daytime that are known to be nocturnal. It is not uncommon to see raccoons and
opossums out wandering during daylight hours especially if they have babies to
feed. There are steps that we can take to deter wildlife and protect our
properties from potential damage. If you are having a dilemma with a wild
animal we first need to identify what exactly is drawing that animal to your
property, making it an easier to correct the problem. Most people want the
problem animal removed and relocated, that is not the
answer. Statistics have shown that more than 50% of relocated wildlife will not
survive. They are released in an unfamiliar environment, they do not have an
established shelter site or a reliable food source, they
do not have territory to call their own. If after the animal has been relocated
you do not take the steps to correct the initial situation the problem will
continue to exist, as other wildlife will be drawn to the property. Often, it
is not the homeowners that draw the wildlife in but the actions of neighbors.
Leaving food out for pets, not securing garbage cans and purposely feeding
wildlife (i.e. birdfeeders) will draw unwanted wild guests. There are many
homemade and store bought deterrents we can use to protect ourselves. Using
appropriate galvanized wire fencing and netting material are economical ways of
keeping wildlife out of vegetable and flower gardens. Planting chicken wire
just under the surface of the ground will prevent wildlife from gaining access
to your gardens. Ideally, we want to recondition not relocate. Wild animals
prefer warm, dark, quiet places where they can feel safe and protected, like
you attic or under your shed. In order for deterrents to be effective we have
to disrupt that feeling of ?safety? forcing these animals to seek new shelter.
As long as the animals feel safe and it?s relatively easy to do so, the
behavior will continue. If it?s squirrels in your attic, then try keeping the
lights on and playing a radio at a tolerable level for yourself
but at the same time disrupting the safety of that animal. This technique
normally doesn?t take more than a couple of days to work and of course, in
order for this to be effective you would be repair any holes or deteriorating
wood once your guests have left. There are deterrents for your yard and around
your sheds. You can purchase predatory urines or use household ammonia to pour
around your yard surface or structures. Pepper wax can be used on plants and
shrubs. Mylar gift ribbons and motion-activated sprinklers work wonders for
scaring curious critters away. Large plastic replicas of predatory animals like
the owl will work, but in order for them to be effective they must be moved
daily. The wild animals will become accustomed to the replica being there and
will no longer fear the owl. Of course, one of the greatest deterrents is a
dog. So why not adopt a homeless shelter dog today? The point is to change
their environment with unexpected events and no longer provide the safety for
which they seek. Take action to exclude wildlife if their presence is not
welcomed. Relocating is not the answer and killing them is simply out of the
question.
Micro-chipping your
Pet
Micro-chipping your pet involves the injection of a
tiny micro-chip under your animals skin by your
veterinarian. This chip allows the township Animal Control Officer with the
help of a special scanner to identify the animal. This gives the best chance,
along with your license tag, for a lost animal to be returned to you. Every
year thousands of lost animals are destroyed due to the fact that authorities
do not know to whom they belong. The costs run approximately $40 depending on
your veterinarian. Please check with yours for further information on this
important service.
Top of the Document
Rabies
Clinics
Township sponsored
rabies clinics in New Jersey are free and open
to all New Jersey
residents, but more than that they are a vital way to prevent rabies. This
fatal disease is endemic (present at a constant level) in the non-domestic
animal population of New Jersey
and therefore is a very real threat to both the human and domestic animal
population. We greatly encourage you to attend these clinics to keep your animals rabies vaccine up to date, however a few rules
should be followed;
1) Please follow directions of employees and posted
signs, they are there to protect you and your animal
2) Be aware, you are surrounded by animals that you
do not know, some animals may not be as friendly as yours
3) Please let our staff handle
your animal while the shot is being given
4) If you have any questions as to whether your
animal is due for a shot please call your Health Department or Vet.
5) All dogs should be on a leash
6) All cats should be in a carrier
Every year a cat escapes because of the lack of a
carrier or the owner attempting to restrain the animal.
Rabies Clinics
September
2010
September 18, 2010
Lafayette (Sussex County)
973 383-1817 x 10
9am - 12pm
Lafayette Park
Route 15 / Pavillion
November
2010
November 3, 2010
Roxbury Township
973 448-2028
4:30 ? 6PM
Fire Company #1
Main Street, Succasunna
November 13, 2010
Mount Arlington
973 398-6832 x 14
10am - 11am
Fire House
Howard Boulevard
For additional
rabies clinics you can try http://lmp.luvmypet.com/lmp/index.htm
and then click on ?clinic locations?
*Important Rabies Event*
This department
often receives complaints regarding the licensure of cats, because it is not
required by the state. We hope the following report from the New Jersey
Department of Health will reinforce the importance of having your cat
vaccinated against rabies. Licensure is the only way this department has of making
sure that the animals are vaccinated against this fatal disease. It is also
equally important that all bites are reported to the health
department as soon as possible, to avoid delays in testing. All parties
involved with a bite are considered responsible for reporting.
On June 3, the
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), Public Health and
Environmental Laboratory (PHEL) confirmed a case of rabies in a domestic cat
from Somerset County. The cat became ill on May 27,
was euthanized by a veterinarian on May 30, and delivered to the PHEL Rabies
Laboratory on June 2, 2004. A family member was bitten by the cat on May 29 and
referred by the veterinarian to a local medical center, but rabies
post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) was withheld until completion of rabies
testing. Unfortunately, this case was not reported by either the treating
veterinarian or the physician to the local health department, which delayed
delivery of the animal for testing and the identification of other potentially exposed
persons and domestic animals.
The local
health department is currently consulting with numerous people who may have
been exposed through direct contact with the rabid cat, and have also
distributed a warning letter to neighborhood residents. Complicating the
situation, is that the cat had given birth to five kittens several weeks
before, and the kittens had been weaned and disbursed several days prior to the
mother cat?s onset of illness. Because rabid cats and dogs may shed the virus
in their saliva before onset of clear rabies symptoms, these five kittens are
considered to have been potentially exposed to the rabies virus. Local health
officials and the police are currently attempting to locate the kittens, which
will need to be either euthanized or put under strict confinement for a period
of six months, as per rabies control laws. This is to ensure public health
protection in the event that one or more of the kittens is now incubating the
disease.
Veterinarians
are reminded of the importance of immediately reporting all animal bites and
suspect cases of rabies in animals to the local health department, as required
by State statute.
Top of the Document
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