Angela Paul recently addressed the Margate Board of Commissioner about the death of her dog, Trouble, by poisoning.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE – City officials heard loud and clear residents’ complaints about the suspected poisoning of pets that could be a result of residents putting out rodent control agents or from extermination done when properties are razed, and have decided to do something about it.
According to Solicitor John Scott Abbott, the city intends to introduce an ordinance at the next Board of Commissioners meeting, that replicates regulations already in the State of New Jersey Administrative Code governing rodent baiting.
Residents in all three Downbeach communities have complained about the proliferation of rabbits, which are considered vermin, and poisoning of several dogs in Margate. Although necropsies were not performed on two dogs that died, their veterinarians said they had symptoms of poisoning.
Under the city’s demolition ordinance, extermination is required before a building is razed. Abbott said the city will tighten the ordinance governing extermination and that contractors will now be required to post signage notifying area residents that extermination is taking place.
The state has laws that govern exterminating and baiting rodents, which should be performed by licensed exterminating contractors.
Abbott said language in New Jersey Administrative Code 7:30-10.3 would be written into the city’s ordinances to provide additional protection to wildlife, pets and children.
“It’s derived from the state law, but it will give more publicity and awareness to people in Margate that they can’t just put pellets out, they have to use bait boxes,” he said. “There’s a whole bunch of regulations so as to try to inhibit or stop anybody’s pet from ingesting poison.”
Abbott said he has two dogs and put his heart into researching the ordinances. Administrator Richard Deaney and Building Inspector Jim Galantino had input into the ordinance, he said.
“It’s in the state law already, were just repeating it,” Deaney said.
The state regulation requires extermination using bait boxes that are tamper resistant in areas accessible to pets, domestic animals and non-targeted wildlife or children. The bait boxes must contain a brand name, EPA registration number, percentage of active ingredient and labeling that warns it is dangerous poison. The bait box must be directly observed by the applicator and removed after treatment is completed.
Abbott said he Googled rodent poison and found that poison pellets are readily available in large quantities on the internet, and that it is possible homeowners could be treating their properties to rid the area of rabbits who eat their tender flowers.
Downbeach residents are taking the proliferation of rabbits into their own hands to the detriment of neighborhood pets.
“I don’t know who would do that,” he said.
Abbott said the new ordinance may not solve the problem, but it would create awareness that homeowners should refrain from the practice.
“Hopefully, the word will get out, don’t just put poison out that someone’s dog or cat can ingest,” he said.
Commissioner Maury Blumberg said this month’s municipal newsletter and subsequent newsletters would contain a public service announcement about the issue. Notices will also be posted on the city’s social media sites.
Resident Mary Slomine told commissioners Sept. 23 that the poisons are not only killing rabbits and dogs but are hazardous to humans and the environment.
“I think it’s an environmental issue,” she said, because rainwater transports toxic chemicals into the stormwater system, which leads to the bay and ocean, further jeopardizing marine life.
Resident Daiva Minter asked how the city would enforce the ordinance.
“Enforcing it is key,” she said, recommending the city put out a robo call announcing the new policy. “It is a threat to target(ed) and non-target(ed) wildlife and domestic creatures. It is not about dogs dying or other wildlife dying, it’s about us dying and about our ecosystem.”
She said everyone living on the island should be good stewards of the environment.
“We understand the need to eliminate rodents when a building will be razed to protect neighboring properties,” Sustainable Margate green team Chairman Steve Jasiecki said. “But an absolute safe reliable method needs to be applied. Empty lots are very attractive for people to take their dogs so they can do their business. These lots need to be safe for people and their pets.”
He said the green team discourages the use of pesticides and herbicides and other chemicals on lawns.
“We like to encourage native landscaping. We don’t know the effects these chemicals have on pets as they walk on lawns. Also, the accumulative amount of fertilizer and poisons being washed down the storm drains and into the bay is very damaging to the wetlands ecosystem,” he said.
Angela Paul, whose dog Trouble died a month ago from what she believes was poisoning, said she does not use social media, and therefore, she didn’t know that dogs were dying. She said the city should notify every household by mail and not just post it on social media or in a newsletter.
Paul said she believes residents are putting out the poisons because they don’t want the rabbits eating their flowers.
“You can’t just make an ordinance and say it’s illegal to do it,” she said. “They are not going to stop. You need to educate the public on alternatives.”
Margate is the first municipality in the Downbeach area to consider introducing legislation to prevent the poisoning of pets.
Longport addressed the issue by conducting an educational meeting about planting rabbit resistant plants and flowers.
Longport residents learn how to plant flowers that the rabbits won’t eat.
Jasiecki said Sustainable Margate has offered landscaping programs in the past and even installed a native plant demonstration garden at the Margate Municipal Building, and is considering offering a new series that addresses the issue.
Ventnor, where the rabbit infestation is not as prolific, has not addressed the issue.
Copyright Mediawize, LLC 2021
