By David Kilby, Special Writer
CHESTERFIELD — The township was reminded a little late in the game this year that it’s time for all dogs in the community to be counted and licensed.
”It’s what the state asks us to do,” said Deputy Mayor Richard LoCascio at the Township Committee meeting Aug. 8.
By state law, the owners of all dogs 7 months of age or older are required to annually apply to the licensing clerk of the municipality in which he or she resides for a dog license, reads the New Jersey’s Department of Health web page.
Chesterfield Township usually has one of its police officers complete the dog census, but there are no officers available for the job this year, according to Mr. LoCascio.
The last time the township had to pay someone individually to perform the census — in 1996 — it paid that person $450. At Monday’s meeting, the committee discussed paying someone between $750 to $1,000 this year.
”It is a very time-consuming process,” said Kyle Wilson, police chief. “I can tell you that, no matter what.”
The completed census has to be finished by Sept. 1, and all of the houses in the township, approximately 2,000 in total, have to be canvassed. The committee members acknowledged that the time constraint was an issue moving forward.
The committee agreed to pay Amy Hoyer, a resident, to complete the task. She will be canvassing houses for the township dog census between now and Sept. 1.
Residents should expect her to arrive between 8:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., according to the committee.
Ms. Hoyer will ask residents if they own a dog, and if they do, she will ask if it is licensed. If there is an unlicensed dog at the house, Ms. Hoyer will contact Maggie Napoleon, dog registrar, and Ms. Napoleon will issue a license for the dog.
”This is what the state requires,” Ms. Napoleon said. “It’s not a rule that we made up.”
The township counts the number of dogs within the municipality every two years.
”Some new residents come in and they don’t know (their dog needs to be licensed),” Ms. Napoleon said.
In addition, the state requires dog licenses to be renewed every year, she said. There is a $50 fine for residents who fail to renew their dog’s license.
Notice letters will be left at houses in which no one is home at the time of the canvassing.
At the meeting, the Township Committee passed a resolution to pay Ms. Hoyer $1,000 to complete the dog census.

