West Orange OKs Animal Shelter Deal With North Caldwell

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The West Orange Town Council unanimously approved a deal with North Caldwell regarding animal shelter services during their meeting on Tuesday.

Under the interlocal agreement approved via resolution, West Orange will provide animal facility sheltering services to North Caldwell. The deal covers the period from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2024.

North Caldwell will pay West Orange a total of $4,018 per year, to be prorated on a semi-annual basis of $2,009 per period for the contract year 2024.

Watch footage of Tuesday’s meeting and discussion on the agreement below (video is cued to the vote).

North Caldwell impounds about four to six animals per year. The borough has trained and certified two animal control officers that will perform all “animal-related functions” in the township, according to the agreement approved Tuesday.

Other terms of the agreement include:

• The Provider shall make their Animal Control Facility available to the Recipient on a daily basis, as needed, seven (7) days a week for Recipient Animal Control Officers to impound stray dogs and cats picked up within the borders of North Caldwell.
• The Recipient will pay the provider the sum of $4,018 per annum to be prorated on a semi-annual basis of $2,009 per period and paid within thirty (30) days of receipt of invoice for the contract year 2024.
• The payment set forth above shall include all employees, equipment and supplies necessary for the care of the animals impounded and the maintenance of the facility, including periodic inspection of animals by a licensed veterinarian.
• The Provider will provide space at the animal control facility for stray dogs and cats impounded by the Recipient’s Animal Control Officers picked up within the borders of the Borough of North Caldwell, provided that the Recipient will not trap for stray cats until the Provider confirms space is available in the quarantine area.
• The Recipient will provide Animal Control Officers who will be responsible for the transport of stray animals to the West Orange animal control facility.
• The Recipient’s Animal Control Officers will be responsible for securing animals in the proper cages, completing the cage card information and the log in of animal data.
• The Recipient shall notify the West Orange Health Department prior to impounding an animal.
• The impounded dog or cat shall be held for a period of seven (7) days unless claimed earlier by the owner; then such dog or cat shall be put up for adoption or humanely disposed of, but in no way whatsoever, shall they be made available for experimentation.
• Any person may redeem their dog, cat or other animal from the Provider’s Animal Control Facility located at 311 Lakeside Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052. The redemption hours are set by the Provider or through an appointment time designated by the Provider’s Animal Control Officers. The redemption of said animals will be completed upon the payment to the Provider the sum of $30.00 pick-up fee, Monday – Friday; 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. There will be an $85.00 pick-up fee for other hours, weekends and holidays and a boarding fee of $7.00 for each day that the animal has been impounded up to and including seven (7) days. After the seven (7) day period the dog, cat or other animal becomes the property of the Provider unless otherwise arranged. No redemption will be honored unless the owner provides a current dog license as set forth in State Statutes.
• Any stray dog or cat in the custody of the Provider charged with biting a human being shall be quarantined and isolated from other animals for the regular quarantine period of at least ten (10) days. The cost of this shall be to the owner or person who is bitten or scratched or, if the person is a minor, the legal guardian, if established.
• The Recipient will be charged a boarding fee of fifteen ($15.00) Dollars per day for any animals brought to the Provider who are involved in litigation and cannot be released to their owners.
• The Provider’s services include the handling and care of all animals impounded, as described. The charges for owned animals shall be the responsibility of the owner.
• The Recipient shall advertise or attempt to contact the owner of a stray animal impounded to inform them of the animal's location for redemption.
• The Provider will not accept sick or injured animals or unwanted owned animals from the Recipient at the animal control facility. If a Recipient animal is determined to be sick or injured the Recipient will be notified to remove the animal for transport to a veterinarian as designated by the Recipient’s Animal Control Officers.
• The Recipient will provide transportation of injured animals to the Recipient's designated veterinarian without assistance from the Provider.
• The Recipient’s Animal Control Officers shall be responsible for the determination and preparation of a specimen to be examined for suspected rabies by the New Jersey Department of Health.
• The Recipient’s Health Department or Animal Control Officers will be responsible for specimen transports to the State for rabies examination.
• The Provider will be responsible for the annual shelter report filed with the State each year for contract communities.
• The Provider will include Recipient residents in the free rabies vaccination clinics sponsored at the West Orange locations.
• The Recipient will indemnify and save the Provider Municipality harmless and against any and all loss, damage, liability and claims whatsoever caused, resulting directly or indirectly from the performance of this agreement.
• Under the terms of this contract, one or both parties may terminate the contract within Sixty (60) days written notice to the other party by Certified Mail-Return Receipt Requested and accompanied by a Resolution of withdrawal by one or both parties. Upon the expiration, all rights and obligations between the parties under this contract shall cease and be deemed null and void.

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