Renew That Dog, Cat License: What You Need To Know

The start of the new year also means that animal owners have to renew their pet licenses with Livingston. 

The 2014 license applications for pets in Livingston are due by Friday, Jan. 31. 

Owners of currently licensed animals will receive a preprinted application in the mail. Directions are preprinted on the back of the application.  

If you do not already have an animal licensed here, you can find the application and directions on the township website by clicking here. The 2014 licensing application also allows licensed pet owners to obtain a Dog Park Pass for the Livingston Dog Park, as well.

For more information about animal license, visit the Health Department, located in the Senior/Community Center, at 204 Hillside Ave., or call (973) 535-7961. 

Each owner should verify and/or complete all information and return all copies of the license and any necessary documentation — such as a rabies inoculation certificate or proof of spaying/neutering — needed to process the application. 

Be sure to also include a self-addressed envelope with a check or cash for the correct amount of the licensing fee and Dog Park fee (if desired).  

Cat owners also need to apply for a license. Unlicensed cats maybe subjected to removal from another persons property if not properly identified. Licensing your cat will provide proper identification and eliminate concerns for feral cat habitats.

Township Requirements

The township requires that every dog be licensed and immunized against rabies at the age of seven months. Proof of immunization is required either at the initial licensing or when the dog’s current rabies inoculation expires. 

Documentation of a rabies certificate is needed to show that the animal is inoculated thorough the entire licensing year or for at least ten months through the year. This means that before a license can be issued to a dog owner, the dog must be vaccinated thorough Oct. 31, 2014. Any rabies vaccine that expires prior to that date must be revaccinated before a license will be issued. 

Fees

New Jersey State laws require the owners of non-neutered or non-spayed dogs to pay an additional fee of $500. Proof that the dog has been spayed or neutered must accompany the application when the dog is first licensed or when a dog is relicensed after a spaying or neutering operation. 

Once this proof is on file at the Health Department, no further documentation needs to be submitted for the life of the dog.

The Livingston license for a non-neutered or non-spayed dog is $20. A license for a neutered or spayed dog is $15. 

There is a $5 late fee for those owners who neglect to obtain a license for a dog or cat prior to March 1 of the licensing year. 

The cost of a Livingston Dog Park Pass is $10 for Livingston residents and $20 for non-residents with proof of a current license from their community of residence.

Any dog or cat owners who do not obtain current licenses for their pets are liable for a summons, a possible court appearance and fines.