N.J. Admin. Code § 8:23A-1.6

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 8:23A-1.6 - Primary enclosures

(a) Primary enclosures shall be structurally sound and maintained in good repair so as to:

1. Contain the animals;

2. Protect animals from injury;

3. Keep predators out;

4. Enable animals to remain dry and clean;

5. Permit animals convenient access to food and water as required in these rules;

6. Provide sufficient space for each animal to turn about freely and to stand, sit and lie in a comfortable normal position; and

7. Have no sharp points or edges accessible to the animals that could cause injury.

(b) In addition to the other provisions of this section each dog in any primary enclosure shall be provided a minimum square footage of floor space equal to the mathematical square of the sum of the length of the dog in inches, as measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail, plus six inches, expressed in square feet.

(c) Animals housed in the same primary enclosure shall be maintained in compatible groups, with the following additional restrictions:

1. Females shall not be housed in the same primary enclosure with sexually intact males, except for breeding purposes, unless otherwise requested by the owner;

2. Any animal exhibiting a vicious disposition shall be housed individually in a primary enclosure;

3. Immature animals shall not be housed in the same primary enclosure with adults other than their mothers, except when permanently maintained in breeding colonies; and

4. Animals of different species shall not be housed in the same primary enclosures.

(d) Animals shall not be placed in empty primary enclosures previously inhabited by other animals unless the enclosure has first been cleaned and disinfected.

(e) Animals showing signs of contagious illness shall be removed from rooms and enclosures containing healthy animals and housed in a separate isolation room, in accordance with 8:23A-1.9(b) through (f).

(f) The floors of primary enclosures shall be constructed so as to protect the animals' feet and legs from injury. Enclosures may have grid-type flooring, provided that the grid material is of adequate gauge to prevent sagging under the weight of the animals and that the mesh is small enough to prevent their feet from passing through or to cause cutting injuries to the foot pads.

(g) Each adult cat housed in a primary enclosure for longer than 15 days shall be provided a minimum of seven cubic feet of cage space. A receptacle containing sufficient litter shall be provided to contain excreta.

(h) Adult dogs confined in cages of less than double the minimum standard size as stated in (c) above shall be exercised in runs at least twice a day or walked on a leash for at least 20 minutes per day.

(i) Suspect rabid animals shall be held in caging that is impermeable to the dissemination of saliva to animals housed on either side of it, with a warning sign prominently posted on the enclosure.

(j) Animals shall not be tied to fences or cages in lieu of being housed in primary enclosures.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:23A-1.6

Amended by R.1995 d.24, effective 1/17/1995.
See: 26 New Jersey Register 4129(a), 27 New Jersey Register 343(b).