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

Ocean City is allowing pet daycare centers to open while to address a growing demand for temporary animal housing.

City Council on Thursday adopted an ordinance allowing mercantile licenses for kennel-style businesses, removing a rule that prevented permits for kennels and other pet boarding businesses.

Earlier this month city officials said they had been approached by one prospective business owner interested in opening a doggy daycare. However, two council members objected to the ordinance, believing softer restrictions could lead to misuse.

Councilman Keith Hartzell backed the idea during the Jan. 9 council meeting, saying Ocean City is “behind the times” as the popularity of pet daycare centers is on the rise. He said pet owners visiting the Shore and residents have been looking for daycare services, preferring these be on the islands so they don’t have to drive inland during the busy summer season.

But when the ordinance came up for a vote, Hartzell raised concerns the new law does not explicitly exclude puppy mills from getting a permit.

“I cannot, I will not, support the sale of puppy-mill dogs in Ocean City, New Jersey,” Hartzell said Thursday before a vote on the ordinance. “If that (ordinance) doesn’t say that, I’m out.”

City Solicitor Dottie McCrosson said city zoning rules prohibit new kennel or breeding-style businesses. However, the ordinance change allows potential businesses to apply for a variance to deviate from these zoning laws.

Councilman Jody Levchuk also voted against the ordinance, saying the mercantile ban acts as a barrier to stop unwanted businesses from opening.

“If I’m a puppy mill operator that wants to operate in Ocean City, and I know it’s against right now, I also know that all I have to do is get through the zoning board, and I will now get my mercantile license,” Levchuk said.

He raised concerns that license holders could operate their pet daycare centers out of their homes and not in commercial spaces.

About 150 New Jersey towns have banned puppy mills and the sale of animals from these kinds of breeders.

A Democrat-led bill has stalled in the New Jersey Legislature that would prohibit the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits at pet shops. The ban would follow New York State, which banned those sales in 2022.

McCrosson said officials were instead approached by a prospective business to offer day-care style services for pet owners. Details about the anticipated business were not addressed at either meeting.

The ordinance passed by a 5-2 vote.