Dog Licensing / Registration Tag / Immunization

Any person who shall own, keep or harbor or suffer the keeping or harboring of any dog of licensing age within the borough shall, in the month of January and annually thereafter, apply for and procure from the Health Department a license and official registration tag.

Applications and renewals can be mailed to: Borough of Lincoln Park, Dog Licensing, 34 Chapel Hill Road, Lincoln Park, NJ 07035, dropped off in the borough payment lockbox located outside the Community Room doors at borough hall or in person at the health department.

The fee for the tag is $20 for each neutered or spayed dog and $23 for dogs, which have not been spayed or neutered. There is a late fee of $15 for applications imposed starting February 1st of the licensing year.. All dogs over the age of 6 months must have a rabies vaccination and must be licensed. Residents may not keep or harbor more than 5 dogs and/or cats without a kennel license.  
Kennel Permits cost $35 annually.

Replacement License

If your dog's license tag is lost you can obtain a replacement license for a $1 fee.

Immunization

At the time of acquiring the license and registration tag, the applicant shall present proof that the dog has been immunized against rabies, which by NJ State Law must be valid through October 31st of the licensing year.

Dog licenses cannot be renewed until after December 31 of the previous year.

Benefits of Dog Licensure

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

• Licensed dogs are vaccinated against rabies (with some exceptions explained below) 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.
• When persons are bitten by a licensed dog, the owner is usually found and the dog is placed under a 10 day confinement and observation that will prevent the victim from needing to begin rabies prophylaxis.
• 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.
• Dog licensing fees help fund testing of suspect rabid wildlife, the free state sponsored municipal rabies vaccination clinics and the state operated low cost spay and neuter program.                           

Exemption of Vaccination by Veterinarians

Municipal dog licensing officials shall grant an exemption to the rabies inoculation requirement for any dog that a licensed veterinarian certifies in writing to be incapable of being inoculated because of an infirmity, other physical condition, or regimen of therapy (N.J.A.C.8:23A-4.3). Exemption  forms must be submitted annually. The NJDOH recommends re vaccination of dogs and cats prior to expiration of the previous vaccination to ensure an overlap of immunity. Re-vaccinating animals prior to the expiration of the duration of immunity  has not been associated with an increased occurrence of adverse reactions and is not a valid reason to exempt a dog from vaccination.