ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 54

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

209th LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2000 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman WILFREDO CARABALLO

District 28 (Essex)

Assemblywoman ARLINE M. FRISCIA

District 19 (Middlesex)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Greenwald, Assemblywomen Previte, Weinberg and Quigley

SYNOPSIS

    Memorializes Congress to enact legislation prohibiting importation or sale of dog or cat fur and products made therefrom.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

    Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

An Assembly Resolution respectfully memorializing the Congress of the United States to enact legislation as soon as possible prohibiting the importation into the United States, or sale, of dog or cat fur or any product made in whole or in part therefrom.

Whereas, A recent investigation conducted by the Humane Society of the United States and others revealed that approximately two million dogs and cats are killed annually worldwide for their fur as part of an extensive international trade in the pelts of these animals, and that the method of killing is often exceedingly cruel; and

Whereas, Dog and cat fur products are sometimes marketed in the United States, as evidenced, for example, by recent news stories reporting the sale of fur-trimmed coats labeled as "Mongolia dog fur" in New Jersey; and

Whereas, Federal law does not prohibit the practices of importing, selling, or using dog or cat fur in garments and only requires the labeling of the fur used when the product costs more than $150; and

Whereas, The importation and use of dog or cat fur in garments or other products sold in the United States is shocking and does not comport at all with the generally accepted view of these animals as human companions; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1.    The Congress of the United States is respectfully memorialized to enact legislation as soon as possible prohibiting the importation into the United States, or sale, of dog or cat fur or any product made in whole or in part therefrom.

    2.    Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the majority and minority leaders of the United States Senate and of the United States House of Representatives, every member of Congress elected from this State, the Secretary of the United States Department of Commerce, and the chairman and each commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission.

STATEMENT

    This resolution would respectfully memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation as soon as possible prohibiting the importation into the United States, or sale, of dog or cat fur or any product made in whole or in part therefrom.

    A recent investigation conducted by the Humane Society of the United States and others revealed that approximately two million dogs and cats are killed annually worldwide for their fur as part of an extensive international trade in the pelts of these animals, and that the method of killing is often exceedingly cruel. Dog and cat fur products are sometimes marketed in the United States, as evidenced, for example, by recent news stories reporting the sale of fur-trimmed coats labeled as "Mongolia dog fur" in New Jersey. Currently, federal law does not prohibit the practices of importing, selling, or using dog or cat fur in garments and only requires the labeling of the fur used when the product costs more than $150.