Measure that would classify homes with more than five dogs as kennels fails in 4-1 vote Tuesday night
Jackson, N.J. — A proposal to classify homes with more than five dogs as kennels and require additional licensing failed in a 4-1 vote Tuesday night, halting a measure that had drawn significant opposition from Jackson residents and divided township leadership. That ordinance was presented by the administration to the council in a flawed attempt to try to stop a problem property on Cobain Road operating as an illegal petting zoo.
Instead of addressing the main issue of an illegal petting zoo on zoning, health department, traffic safety concerns, and public health and safety, the mayor’s office instead thought the best way to tackle the problem was to limit how man dogs every resident in town may own.
One of the complaints at the illegal petting zoo was that the owner had multiple dogs barking outside all day.
The ordinance, backed by Mayor Jennifer Kuhn and Council President Mordechai Burnstein, was voted down by the Jackson Township Council, with Burnstein casting the lone vote in favor while council members Nino Borrelli, Giuseppe Palmeri Bressi, Jennifer Kuhn? (correction: mayor not voting) and others opposed the measure. (Note: Only council votes recorded as 4-1; mayor does not vote.)
Ordinance targeted multi-dog households
The proposed ordinance would have amended Chapter 98 of the township code to require any residential property with more than five dogs to be licensed as a kennel. It also redefined “kennel” to include private homes exceeding that threshold, expanding regulation beyond commercial operations.
Violations would have applied to property owners, tenants, or anyone in control of the animals, with penalties enforced under existing township code. Supporters, including Burnstein, indicated the measure was brought forward following concerns raised by code enforcement and animal control officials.
Residents push back, cite enforcement concerns
Public opposition centered on concerns that the ordinance unfairly targeted responsible pet owners while failing to address a specific alleged issue in the community.
Amanda Trombetta, a Jackson resident and council candidate, criticized the proposal during public comment:
“This proposed ordinance, which classifies households with five or more dogs as a kennel, misses the mark completely. Responsible dog owners are not the problem,” Trombetta said. “Families who care for multiple pets in a loving, well-maintained home should not be unfairly labeled or regulated as a commercial operation.”
She added that the ordinance “fails to address the real issue our community is facing,” referencing an alleged illegal petting zoo raising concerns about zoning, sanitation, noise, traffic, and animal welfare.
“Good policy should be focused on the actual problem. Jackson deserves better. We deserve actual solutions,” she said.
Council members who opposed the ordinance echoed similar concerns during the vote.
Councilman Nino Borrelli said the township should not regulate how many pets residents can own, stating, “We should not be telling residents how many pets they can have.”
Councilman Chris Pollak also voted no, arguing the measure misdirected enforcement efforts.
“This is about an alleged illegal operation and we do this a lot — we keep addressing the problems without addressing the problems,” Pollak said. “It’s always the residents who end up paying the price, not the people breaking the law.”
Key Points
• Jackson Council voted 4-1 to reject a dog limit ordinance Tuesday night
• Proposal would have classified homes with more than five dogs as kennels
• Residents and council members argued it failed to address an alleged illegal petting zoo
Political setback for ordinance backers
The vote marked a setback for Mayor Kuhn and Council President Burnstein, who had supported the ordinance amid internal and public debate. Burnstein attributed the proposal to concerns raised by township enforcement officials but ultimately stood alone in supporting the measure during the final vote.
The outcome followed organized public opposition from residents across the township, including those who voiced concerns at the council meeting and challenged the ordinance’s scope.
What happens next
With the ordinance defeated, existing regulations governing dog licensing and kennel operations in Jackson Township remain unchanged. Officials have not announced whether a revised version of the proposal will be introduced or whether enforcement actions will be taken separately regarding the alleged property at the center of concerns.
The status of any investigation or enforcement tied to the alleged illegal petting zoo remains unclear.
Current status: The ordinance has been formally rejected by the council, and no replacement measure has been introduced. The Ocean County Health Department continues to ignore requests for health inspections and to provide documents via the open public records act. The township currently has not offered a public plan on how to shut down the illegal petting zoo that is causing a local disturbance and quality of life issues for neighbors.
Editor’s note: Councilman Mordechai Burnstein asked for clarification saying the ordinance was his alone, and not the mayor’s despite the request coming from the administration through animal control and code enforcement, which report directly to the mayor. This note has been added.