Jersey Shore town invites visitors to bring pets thanks to new ordinance

In order to meet the increasing demand for short-term animal housing, Ocean City is permitting pet daycare facilities to open.

A restriction that prohibited permits for kennels and other pet boarding enterprises was lifted on Thursday when the City Council adopted an ordinance permitting mercantile licenses for kennel-style operations.

City authorities said earlier this month that a potential company owner who was interested in starting a dog daycare had contacted them. Two council members, however, opposed the legislation because they thought it would be abused due of its looser limits.

At the Jan. 9 council meeting, Councilman Keith Hartzell supported the proposal, stating that Ocean City is falling behind as pet daycare facilities gain popularity. In order to avoid having to drive inland during the busy summer months, he added, homeowners and pet owners who visit the Shore have started searching for daycare facilities. They prefer that these be on the islands.

However, Hartzell expressed worries that the new rule did not specifically bar puppy mills from obtaining a permit when the ordinance was put to a vote.

Prior to the ordinance’s approval on Thursday, Hartzell stated, “I cannot and will not support the sale of puppy-mill dogs in Ocean City, New Jersey.” I’m out if that (ordinance) doesn’t state that.

According to City Solicitor Dottie McCrosson, new kennel or breeding-style companies are prohibited by city zoning regulations. The ordinance amendment, however, permits prospective companies to request a variance in order to depart from these zoning regulations.

In addition, Councilman Jody Levchuk voted against the law, arguing that the mercantile restriction serves as a deterrent to the introduction of undesirable companies.

I know that operating a puppy mill in Ocean City is now prohibited, but I also know that all I need to do to obtain my commercial license is to pass the zoning board, Levchuk stated.

He expressed concern that license holders would run their pet daycare facilities from their homes rather than at places of business.

The selling of animals from these breeders and puppy mills are prohibited in about 150 towns in New Jersey.

The selling of dogs, cats, and rabbits at pet stores would be illegal under a Democratic-led bill that has stalled in the New Jersey Legislature. The prohibition would come after those sales were outlawed in New York State in 2022.

According to McCrosson, a potential company instead approached officials to provide pet owners with daycare-style services. Neither meeting covered specifics regarding the expected business.

By a vote of 5-2, the ordinance was approved.