Toms River Holding Free Rabies Clinic For 2020 Dog, Cat Licenses

TOMS RIVER, NJ — If your pet needs an updated rabies vaccination to get it licensed for 2020 in Toms River, the township's Animal Facility will be holding a free rabies clinic on Jan. 18.

The clinic is set for 10 a.m. to noon at the facility on 235 Oak Ave., next to the police department. All dogs and cats must be in a carrier or on a leash.

Written proof of a prior rabies vaccination is required to make the new shot good for three years, and the rabies vaccination certificate cannot be adjusted after the clinic.

Toms River residents may also purchase dog and cat licenses at the clinic. Payment by check or cash only. Dogs over 7 months old must be licensed by state law. In Toms River those licenses must be purchased or renewed by Jan. 31.

Cat licenses are renewed yearly in June. Information on them is available on the township website.

Dog owners must present a current rabies shot certificate with an expiration date after Nov. 1, 2020. If the shot expires before Nov. 1, 2020, the animal cannot be licensed.

Dog licenses are $15 for a spayed/neutered animal and $20 if not spayed or neutered. For spayed/neutered animals, proof from a veterinarian is required.

A late fee of $5 plus the cost of license begins in February and increases to $10 plus the cost of the license in March. Late fees are set by ordinance and cannot be waived.

All pet licenses can be renewed in person or by mail at the Toms River Health Department.

IN PERSON: Be prepared to wait in long lines, due to high volume, during January, February and March.

The hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the health department, in the Toms River Municipal Building, 33 Washington St. Payment: Cash in exact amount or check payable to Toms River Twp. The health department does not accept debit or credit cards.

TO PURCHASE BY MAIL: Send a request for a dog license to Toms River Dog Licensing, P.O. Box 728, Toms River, NJ 08754.

Requests must include:

• Name, address and phone number of the pet owner.
• Name, age, sex and breed of the dog.
• A check for exact amount of the license, payable to Toms River Twp.
• Rabies shot certificate expiring after Nov. 1, 2020
• Proof of spaying/neutering signed by a licensed vet (if applicable)
• Self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope.

For additional information or questions, call (732) 341-1000 extension 8408.

Licensing dogs and placing the license on the dog's collar has many benefits for the dog owner, as well as for the citizens:

• Licensed dogs are vaccinated against rabies and those with current license tags on their collars are considered generally protected from the disease.
• A licensed dog that wanders off the owner's property or gets lost can be traced and quickly returned to its owner by animal control officers.
• Dog licensing is mandatory in all New Jersey municipalities and the licensing fee is much less than the fines and penalties for having unlicensed dogs.
• License fees support animal control, animal sheltering and rabies control activities within the municipality.

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