For Immediate Release

CITY OF NEWARK REMINDS RESIDENTS:

RENEW YOUR DOG LICENSES FOR 2012 IN ROOM B-17 AT CITY HALL

Dog owners must present vaccination records when applying for licenses

Newark, NJ – January 4, 2012 – Mayor Cory A. Booker and Acting Director of Child and Family Well-Being L’Tanya Williamson today reminded Newark residents who own dogs that with the start of the new year they must purchase or renew licenses for them, and that applications for licenses are available in Room B-17, at City Hall, Mondays through Fridays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Applicants for dog licenses must present the dog’s or dogs’ certificates of vaccination when they apply for the license. The fee for dog licenses for spayed or neutered dogs is $8.20. The fee for dogs that are not spayed or neutered is $11.20. In 2009, the City issued 799 dog licenses. In 2010, it issued 767. Last year, the City issued 791 dog licenses.

“Dog licenses are a means to ensure that Newark residents who own dogs keep them licensed, with their vaccinations up-to-date, to help keep our City safe,” Mayor Booker said. “Additionally, licenses also help protect dogs when they get lost, enabling them to be returned to their owners. Let’s give our canine companions the love they deserve, by purchasing the licenses they require.”

Under Municipal Ordinances, anyone who owns a dog in the City of Newark must have a license. Each license comes with a metal tag that can be attached to the dog’s collar. Violations can result in fines of up to $50.00 in Newark Municipal Court.

Acting Director Williamson noted the importance of keeping dogs leashed when being walked, and reminded residents that dog ownership comes with responsibilities. “Too many dogs who arrive as beloved pets ultimately become victims of neglect or abandonment,” she said. “Animal shelters and rescue organizations are filled with dogs that have been abandoned. Residents should not take up dog ownership unless they are prepared for the responsibility, and I urge them to support our shelters by adopting these dogs who need loving homes.”

The first license issued in 2012 went for the third straight year to Monster, a mixed-breed Labrador cross, owned by Kathy Muraca, a North Ward Public Schools crossing guard. Ms. Muraca purchased her dog from the Associated Humane Society of Newark’s shelter on Evergreen Avenue.

Under Municipal Ordinance 6:1-12, anyone owning or controlling a dog must remove waste left by that dog on all sidewalks, gutters, streets, or other public areas. Waste must be either flushed in a toilet or placed in a non-leaking container (such as a plastic bag) and then placed in the trash. Violations can result in fines up to $500 in Newark Municipal Court.

Dog waste contains a number of parasites, including roundworm, which can make people very sick. These and other parasites pass through dog waste, and can linger in the soil for years. Children are at greater risk of infections because they play in soil where these parasites are found. Adults who use wheelchairs or just sit on the ground at the park are also at risk.

For more information on dog licenses, the “Scoop the Poop” campaign, and all other municipal policies and programs, contact the City of Newark’s Non-Emergency Call Center at (973) 733-4311.

-NEWARK-

Contact:         Press Information Office – (973) 733-8004

                        Email: Pressoffice@ci.newark.nj.us

About the City of Newark, New Jersey

Newark, commonly referred to as Brick City, is the third oldest city in the United States and the largest in New Jersey, with a population of more than 280,000 people. Newark sits on one of the nation’s largest transportation super-structures including an international airport, major commuter and freight rail lines, major highway intersections and the busiest seaport on the east coast.

With a new Administration as of July 2006, Newark continues to see signs of a strong revival. Its population showed growth in the most recent census. Its six major colleges and universities are further expanding their presence. The rate of production of affordable housing has doubled, and new businesses are moving in. There is still much work to be done but Newark is on its way to achieving its mission: to set a national standard for urban transformation.

For more information on the City of Newark, please visit our website at www.ci.newark.nj.us

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