Animal Alley

Welcome to the Animal Alley site for information about laws related to pets and people, links to information about caring for pets, and information about wildlife. This information is collected by the Hillsborough Health Department in cooperation with other local departments, the New Jersey Department of Health, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Please read through our post, and if you have any questions or concerns, please call the Health Department at 908-369-5652.

Hillsborough’s contracted Animal Control Professionals are from Animal Control Solutions. Their website is animalcontrolsolutions.org; 908-722-1271. You may also call the Hillsborough Police for emergencies- 911- or non-emergencies at 908-369-4323.

Animal Cruelty
Hillsborough Police Department ASPCA 24 hour hotline NJ Department of Agriculture Humane Society	908-369-4323 800-582-5959 609-671-6400 866-720-2676
Wildlife behaving unusually
Hillsborough Police Animal Control Solutions	908-369-4323 908-722-1271
Attack of a person or pet by a possibly rabid animal
Hillsborough Police Animal Control Solutions Health Department Your Physician or Veterinarian	908-369-4323 908-722-1271 908-369-5652
Stray cats and dogs or dogs running loose
Animal Control Solutions	908-722-1271
Pet Health
MedlinePlus

Rabies Information

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that is found in the saliva and central nervous system fluid (CNSF) of an infected animal and can be passed on to humans or another animal.

The virus is passed when the saliva or CNSF of the infected animal gets into another animal or human usually via a bite. Sometimes, it is possible to get rabies from an animal through a scratch or open cut or mucous membrane (eyes, nose, mouth) contact with infected saliva, which is called a NON-BITE EXPOSURE. Mammals such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, groundhogs, bats, can carry rabies, but any mammal can get rabies. RABIES IS PRESENT IN THE WILDLIFE POPULATION IN NEW JERSEY, so we must be vigilant about keeping rabies vaccinations for our pets current, staying away from wildlife and stray dogs and cats, reporting bites immediately to the police, your

RABIES IS PRESENT IN THE WILDLIFE POPULATION IN NEW JERSEY, so we must be vigilant about keeping rabies vaccinations for our pets current, staying away from wildlife and stray dogs and cats, reporting bites immediately to the police, your physician and the health department, and discouraging wildlife from taking up residence on your property.

The first rabies vaccination given to a cat or dog is not effective for 30 days. Make sure to keep your pet away from situations which may expose it to rabies. The second rabies vaccination is usually good for 3 years- except for a specific one-year vaccination given to cats in certain situations. Check with your veterinarian about the expiration date of your pet’s vaccination.

RABID ANIMALS CAN BEHAVE AGGRESSIVELY OR PASSIVELY. SOMETIMES THEY MAY APPEAR UNUSUALLY FRIENDLY, OR MAY STUMBLE AND HAVE DIFFICULTY WALKING, THEY MAY MAKE STRANGE NOISES. UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR COULD MEAN RABIES. Call the Police or Animal Control Solutions if you see a sick animal.

If a wild animal or suspect rabid animal fights with your pet or attacks a person, please call the Police at 908-369-4323 or 911. IMMEDIATELY WASH AN OPEN WOUND ON A PERSON. WATCH THE ANIMAL FROM A SAFE POSITION UNTIL POLICE ARRIVE. THE ANIMAL WILL NEED TO BE TESTED FOR RABIES. FOLLOW UP WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. CALL YOUR PHYSICIAN AND/OR YOUR VETERINARIAN.

If your pet is in contact with a wild animal, do not touch your pet without gloves for about 4 hours after this contact. Once the saliva dries, the virus is not alive. Until then, fresh Saliva can possibly get into open cuts on your hands and you will be directed to talk to your physician about possible treatment for a non-bite exposure.

Currently Vaccinated pets exposed to a possibly rabid animal may need a booster rabies vaccination that can be given by your veterinarian within 2 days of exposure. Contact your veterinarian immediately. There may be a period of observation for your pet after the contact and the booster vaccination.

Not Currently Vaccinated pets exposed to a rabid or possibly rabid animal may need to be observed for a period of 45 days, 90 days, or 6 months, or euthanized depending upon the situation. The local health department, using the NJ Department of Health algorithm, will determine the confinement period: Management of Domestic Animal Exposure to Rabies.

RABIES TREATMENT FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE: Treatment must begin before symptoms begin. All bites and non-bite exposures to humans must be evaluated immediately by the health department and your physician. Emergency rooms have the post-exposure treatment injections. Once symptoms begin, treatment will not be effective. The injections are not in the stomach and they are usually spread out over about a month. It is usually 4 injections plus immune globulin injections. The Physician will follow the NJ Department of Health Postexposure Guidelines at nj.gov/health/cd/documents/postexp_rabies_Guide.pdf. RABIES PREVENTION: Make sure your pets are CURRENTLY vaccinated against rabies- even indoor pets. A dog license ensures that you don’t forget to keep your dog’s rabies shot current.

IF BITTEN BY A DOG OR CAT, GET THE NAME, ADDRESS, AND PHONE NUMBER OF THE OWNER, A DESCRIPTION OF THE ANIMAL, OR THE OWNER’S LICENSE PLANTE NUMBER- EVEN IF IT IS AN ANIMAL YOU KNOW. CALL YOUR PHYSICIAN AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND/OR POLICE DEPARTMENT.ANY BITING DOMESTIC ANIMAL MUST BE OBSERVED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, EVEN IF IT IS CURRENTLY VACCINATED AGAINST RABIES.

The local health departments in our area share information about rabies vaccination clinics in order to encourage residents to have their pets protected against the rabies virus. Rabies is present in wildlife in New Jersey- Mostly in raccoons, bats, skunks, foxes, and groundhogs. It is transmitted through the saliva and central nervous system fluid of infected animals and is fatal. The best defense against rabies is a current rabies vaccination for domestic pets. Free rabies clinics in our area will be posted on this website as they become available. Please check this page periodically or contact the Hillsborough Health Department to find out when clinics will be held.

BATS: Bats present unique problems with rabies exposure. Bats eat insects and are important to our ecology. However, they also can carry rabies. It has been reported that in situations in which people have contracted rabies from bats and their exposure route is unknown, either the wound was a small, insignificant bite or scratch, or the victim was asleep or mentally unaware, or a child who may not have noticed any contact with a bat. This is the reason for extreme caution with bat exposures. Any contact with a bat, or possible contact (i.e. sleeping person, child, mentally challenged person in room with bat), should report to a physician immediately, and the health department. For more about bats and health, please visit the New Jersey Department of Health website.
What to do if there is a BAT in your house
NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife – Bat Conservation
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RABIES, click cdc.gov/rabies
Humane Society – Understanding Rabies
https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/rabies.shtml

Animal Laws and Links

Chapter 117: Article 1, “Animals Running At Large”
Chapter 117: Article II, “Dog Control”
Chapter 117: Article III, “Licensing of Dogs; Dog Warden”
Chapter 117: Article IV "Leash Free Dog Area"
Chapter 300 Animals: Board of Health powers, Animal control authority, Vaccination of Cats, Pet Waste
Chapter 315: Kennels and Pet Shops
Chapter 224: Animal Fighting
Chapter 221-7: Domestic Animals in Parks
Chapter 183: Hunting and Wildlife Management.
Vicious and Dangerous Dogs
Guide to Prevention of Animal Cruelty Laws
NJ 4:22-17 Cruelty; certain acts, crime; degrees
NJ 2:22-26 Penalties for various acts constituting cruelty
Animal Welfare

Animal Alley

Rabies Information

Animal Laws and Links

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