Residents urged to renew dog licenses

Purchase or renew licenses at City Hall

Photo Courtesy Wallis Muraca ‘Monster,’ a rottweiler-golden retriever cross, is the city of Newark’s top dog for 2016, being the first to get a dog license this year. He was adopted from the Newark Humane Society by North Ward resident Kathy Muraca eight years ago. All dog owners in the city of Newark must get licenses from the Division of Special Taxes.
Photo Courtesy Wallis Muraca
‘Monster,’ a rottweiler-golden retriever cross, is the city of Newark’s top dog for 2016, being the first to get a dog license this year. He was adopted from the Newark Humane Society by North Ward resident Kathy Muraca eight years ago. All dog owners in the city of Newark must get licenses from the Division of Special Taxes.

NEWARK, NJ — Newark residents who own dogs are being urged to purchase or renew licenses for them. Applications for licenses are available in Room B-17, at City Hall, 920 Broad St., Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Applicants for dog licenses must present the dog or dogs’ certificates of vaccination when applying 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. Last year, the city issued 941 dog licenses. In 2014, the city issued 794 licenses and, in 2013, the city issued 830 dog licenses.

“Dog licenses not only help our Newark residents keep their dogs safe, with their vaccinations up-to-date, but they help keep our city safe,” Mayor Ras J. Baraka said. “Additionally, licenses also help protect dogs when they get lost, so that they can be returned to their owners. Let’s give our beloved pets the love they deserve, by purchasing the licenses they require, so we can continue to transform Newark into a city we can all believe in.”

According to 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 as much as $50 in Newark Municipal Court.

Director of Health and Community Wellness Dr. Hanaa Hamdi noted the importance of keeping dogs leashed when being walked and reminded residents that dog ownership comes with responsibilities. “Too many animals who arrive as pets ultimately become victims of neglect or abandonment,” she said. “Animal shelters and rescue organizations are filled with pets 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.”

According to 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 of as much as $500 in Newark Municipal Court.

For additional information on obtaining dog licenses in the city of Newark, contact the Non-Emergency Call Center at 973-733-4311.