4:19-20. Notification of owner of dog; hearing

4. a. The animal control officer shall notify the municipal court and the municipal health officer immediately that he has seized and impounded a dog pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1989, c.307 (C.4:19-19), or that he has reasonable cause to believe that a dog has killed another domestic animal and that a hearing is required. The animal control officer shall through a reasonable effort attempt to determine the identity of the owner of any dog seized and impounded pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1989, c.307. If its owner cannot be identified within seven days, that dog may be humanely destroyed.

b. The animal control officer shall, within three working days of the determination of the identity of the owner of a dog seized and impounded pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1989, c.307 (C.4:19-19), notify by certified mail, return receipt requested, the owner concerning the seizure and impoundment, and that, if the owner wishes, a hearing will be held to determine whether the impounded dog is vicious or potentially dangerous. This notice shall also require that the owner return within seven days, by certified mail or hand delivery, a signed statement indicating whether he wishes the hearing to be conducted or, if not, to relinquish ownership of the dog, in which case the dog may be humanely destroyed. If the owner cannot be notified by certified mail, return receipt requested, or refuses to sign for the certified letter, or does not reply to the certified letter with a signed statement within seven days of receipt, the dog may be humanely destroyed.

L.1989,c.307,s.4; amended 1994,c.187,s.2.