A new state law bans leaving pets chained up outside in bad weather for extended periods of time, creating penalties for owners and allowing authorities to take custody of pets in some cases.   This is good news for New Jersey pets!  With enforcement of this law by the Bergen County Animal Cruelty Task Force (BCSPCA), dogs will no longer live their lives on the end of a weighted chain, alone and forgotten in the backyard.

It is now unlawful to tether or chain:

a companion animal outside for more than 30 minutes without proper shelter if the temperature is 32 degrees or below or if it is hotter than 90 degrees;

a nursing female dog or a dog that is less than 4 months old;

a companion animal outside between the hours of 11PM and 5 AM;

a companion animal wearing a choke collar, prong collar, head harness, or any other type of collar, harness, or similar device other than a properly fitted body harness or buckle-type collar;

by using a chain with metal links that are more than one-quarter of an inch thick, or a tether, collar, or harness to which a weight is attached;

with a tether on which more than one dog is restrained;

with a tether that is less than 15 feet in length or which does not permit the dog to walk at least 15 feet in any one direction; or

with a tether that permits the dog to reach another dog or an object or location that poses a risk of entanglement, strangulation, drowning, or other harm to the health or safety of the dog, including, but not limited to, another dog’s tether or a window sill, fence, wall, porch, terrace railing, vehicle, tree, pole, pool, or public road or highway.

When tethered outside the companion animal must also have access to sanitary water in a liquid state.

Other provisions of the law are designed to encourage pet owners to take their pets with them when evacuated or to make other arrangements to keep their pets safe in an emergency.

If you see an animal being improperly tethered, please report it to the Bergen County SPCA (BC ACTF) at 201-573-8900.

Chief Roni Wildoner, a life long Ramsey resident, was recently featured in the May, 2017 issue of Downtown Ramsey magazine.  The article highlights her deep commitment to protecting and helping animals in Bergen County.  As a pet owner, she understands the emotional bond between pet owners and their companion animals.  Her own menagerie includes dogs, donkeys, parrots and a chinchilla!  Her work life experience includes jobs as a zookeeper for Warner Brothers Jungle Habitat in West Milford and for the Zoological Society at the Bronx Zoo.

Chief Wildoner is committed to fighting animal abuse and has completed Humane Law Enforcement Training required by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, as well as the state mandated HELO training.  In addition, she recently became certified as an Animal Control Officer.  She continues to further her education to hone her skills as head of the Bergen County Animal Cruelty Task Force and Law Enforcement branch of the Bergen County SPCA.

Copies of the May issue of Downtown Ramsey were available at local stores and mailed out to all residents in Ramsey.

We congratulate Chief Wildoner on her accomplishments and wish her continued success as Chief of the Bergen County SPCA!

Did you know that humane law enforcement officers from the Bergen County SPCA are available to speak to your classroom or local non-profit organization?  An important part of our mission at BCSPCA is to educate the public on the humane handling of pets and companion animals.  If you would like learn more about our work standing up for abused and neglected animals or just want to learn more about keeping and caring for pets, please contact us at bergenspca@aol.com.

The State of  New Jersey requires that all dogs over the age of 7 months be licensed.  

The Board of Health encourages all dog owners (and cat owners if required by your town)to license their pets with the town. This is the law, and compliance brings benefits to you, your pet and the community.

There are many reasons to register and license your pet.

• You can think of your pet’s license as a way to ensure a free ride home in case it is lost. Anyone who has lost a pet knows how we worry about them until they are safe at home. The license tag can be quickly used to find your name and address and the authorities can notify you. This will bring about a quick reunion.
• Licensing is a way for the community to ensure that pets are vaccinated against rabies, a terrible disease that is fatal to dogs and cats.
• The fees from licensing stay in the community and help fund rabies clinics and support the animal control efforts in your community.
• The cost of the license is far less than the fine imposed if your dog is found without a license.
• Last, but not least, it is the law!

For example, in Paramus the fee for licensing a dog for one year is $12 if spayed/neutered and $15 if the dog is intact.  A 3 year license is $30 if spayed/neutered and $40 if intact.  In order to license your pet, you will need proof of rabies vaccination.

Thanks to the International Fund for Animal Welfare for making this information available.

For more information on how to license your pet, contact the Paramus Health Officer at

(201) 265-2100 Ext: 2300  (or the licensing clerk of your town)

Additional information is available by copying and pasting this link into your browser:  http://www.state.nj.us/health/animalwelfare/dog_lic.shtml