Cherry Hill, NJ Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)

4 is Cherry Hill's version of the 'puppy mill' pet-shop restriction found across New Jersey municipalities. It defines an 'ANIMAL CARE FACILITY' as a control center or shelter run by or under contract with a state, county or municipality whose mission is substantially the rescue and placement of animals, and an 'ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATION' as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the same placement mission. A 'PET SHOP' is a retail establishment where dogs and cats are sold, exchanged, bartered or offered for sale to the public, a definition that expressly excludes animal care facilities and rescue organizations themselves.

Under the operative regulation in paragraph b, a pet shop 'may offer for sale only those dogs and cats that the pet shop has obtained from or displays in cooperation with' one of those two source types, foreclosing sourcing from commercial breeders or brokers for retail sale in the Township. The section separately bars any pet shop from offering for sale a dog or cat younger than eight weeks old, regardless of source. 2, with revocation available for noncompliance.