New Jersey Committee to Consider Multiple Dog Bills on Monday, August 10

The New Jersey Senate’s Economic Growth Committee will consider five proposals dealing with dogs on Monday, August 10.  The American Kennel Club encourages all dog owners in New Jersey to review the proposals and contact the members of the committee with any concerns you may have.

• Assembly Bill 2389 and Senate Bill 224 seek to prohibit those convicted of animal cruelty offenses from owning domestic companion animals by allowing courts to order the forfeiture of any domestic companion animal owned by the offender and to order the offender to refrain from acquiring or owning any domestic animal for at least two years.  Additionally, the bills seek to prohibit those convicted of animal cruelty offenses from working or volunteering at animal-related enterprises.  Should the bills become law, owners or operators of animal-related enterprises—which include animal care and veterinary operations, training facilities, kennels, shelters, pet shops, and other facilities—are required to pay for background checks to be performed on both current and prospective employees and volunteers to determine whether such individuals have been convicted of an animal cruelty offense.  Additionally, the bills effectively create an animal cruelty offender registry by requiring the Commissioner of Health to add the names of animal cruelty offenders to an existing list of individuals not eligible to serve as certified animal control officers.  The list must be made available online must be updated regularly.