Perth Amboy, NJ Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)

Chapter 321, Pet Shops, Article I, is titled Sale of Dogs and Cats Restricted. It was adopted by the City Council of the City of Perth Amboy on May 10, 2017 as Ord. No. 1846-2017. Section 321-2(A) is a sourcing rule: a pet shop can offer for sale only dogs and cats that it has obtained from, or displays in cooperation with, an animal care facility or an animal rescue organization. Section 321-2(B) sets an age floor: no dog or cat younger than eight (8) weeks old.

Two definitions in § 321-1 decide who is covered. A pet shop is a retail establishment where dogs and cats are sold, exchanged, bartered or offered for sale as pet animals to the general public at retail, and the definition excludes an animal care facility or animal rescue organization. An animal care facility is an animal control center or animal shelter, maintained by or under contract with any state, county or municipality, whose mission and practice is, in whole or significant part, the rescue and placement of animals in permanent homes or rescue organizations. An animal rescue organization is a not-for-profit organization with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, with the same rescue and placement mission.

The phrase offer for sale is drawn wide. It means to sell, offer for sale or adoption, advertise for the sale of, barter, auction, give away or otherwise dispose of a dog or cat, so handing an animal over for free does not step outside the rule. The chapter defines a cat as Felis catus and a dog as Canis familiaris, and its sale restrictions are written for those two species.