Sponsored by:
Assemblyman TIM EUSTACE
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblyman PARKER SPACE
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
Assemblyman REED GUSCIORA
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen McKeon and Rooney
SYNOPSIS
Urges animal shelters and pounds in NJ to adopt “no-kill” policies by no later than 2025.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging animal shelters and pounds in New Jersey to adopt “no-kill” policies aimed at saving the lives of all healthy cats and healthy and adoptable dogs.
Whereas, The killing of healthy cats and healthy and adoptable dogs in shelters and pounds is a needless tragedy and should be eliminated whenever possible; and
Whereas, Since its inception, the “no-kill” movement – led by organizations like Best Friends Animal Society – has been credited with saving the lives of millions of animals; and
Whereas, While the rate of animals killed in shelters and pounds has decreased significantly over the past decade both in New Jersey and nationwide, the routine killing of healthy cats and healthy and adoptable dogs continues as a matter of policy rather than necessity at many shelters and pounds; and
Whereas, According to Best Friends Animal Society, each year, an estimated 2 million (5,500 per day) healthy cats and healthy and adoptable dogs are killed; and
Whereas, According to the New Jersey Department of Health’s 2015 Animal Intake and Disposition Survey, which only requires voluntary reporting by participating shelters, in 2015, approximately 21 percent of all cats and dogs impounded in New Jersey shelters and pounds were killed; and
Whereas, The exact rate of animals impounded, claimed, or killed in shelters and pounds is not known, because shelters and pounds are not required to report their statistics and, therefore, this voluntary, non-mandatory reporting is not verifiable; and
Whereas, Many of the pets that are killed each year are healthy or treatable pets that could be placed in homes, or feral cats that do not belong in animal shelters; and
Whereas, A national survey conducted for Best Friends Animal Society revealed that almost 70% of citizens do not want kittens and cats picked up and killed; and
Whereas, The “no-kill” philosophy is the idea that every healthy cat and every healthy and adoptable dog in a shelter or pound should be saved, and that euthanasia should only be an act of mercy as a last resort for animals suffering from an irremediable illness or a physical condition causing the animal continuous and irremediable pain; and
Whereas, A shelter or pound is generally considered “no-kill” when it saves at least 90 percent of the pets it takes in; and
Whereas, “No-kill” shelters and pounds implement new and innovative programs and policies to provide alternatives to the killing of pets; and
Whereas, These policies and programs include volunteer foster care networks; comprehensive adoption programs; medical and behavioral rehabilitation programs; public education and awareness programs; feral cat trap, neuter, vaccinate, and return or release programs; animal socialization programs; and many others; and
Whereas, The citizens of this State have a right to expect that animal shelters and pounds are doing everything in their power to protect the lives of animals, including implementing “no-kill policies”; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges animal shelters and pounds in New Jersey to adopt “no-kill” policies aimed at saving the lives of all healthy and adoptable animals, with the goal of making New Jersey a “no-kill” state by no later than 2025.
2. This House further urges animal shelters, pounds, humane societies, and rescue organizations in the State to participate in the New Jersey Department of Health’s annual Animal Intake and Disposition Survey to aid the State in better understanding the issue of animal impoundment and euthanasia.
3. Copies of this resolution, as filed by the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Governor, the New Jersey Commissioner of Health, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association, the New Jersey Certified Animal Control Officers Association, the Humane Society of the United States, and the Humane Society of the United States in New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This resolution would urge animal shelters and pounds in New Jersey to adopt “no-kill” policies aimed at saving the lives of all healthy cats and all healthy and adoptable dogs, with the goal of making New Jersey a “no-kill” state by no later than 2025.
The killing of healthy cats and healthy and adoptable dogs in shelters and pounds is a needless tragedy and should be eliminated whenever possible. While the rate of animals killed in shelters and pounds has decreased significantly over the past decade, the routine killing of healthy cats and healthy and adoptable dogs continues as a matter of policy rather than necessity at many shelters and pounds. According to Best Friends Animal Society, each year, an estimated 2 million (5,500 per day) healthy cats and healthy and adoptable dogs are killed. Many of these animals are healthy or treatable animals that could be placed in homes, or feral cats that do not belong in animal shelters, as 70% of American citizens agree.
The “no-kill” philosophy is the idea that every healthy cat and every healthy and adoptable dog in shelters and pounds should be saved, and that euthanasia should only be an act of mercy as a last resort for irremediably suffering animals. A shelter or pound is generally considered “no-kill” when it saves at least 90 percent of the pets it takes in. “No-kill” shelters and pounds implement new and innovative programs and policies to provide alternatives to the killing of pets, such as volunteer foster care networks, comprehensive adoption programs, medical and behavioral rehabilitation programs, public education and awareness programs, feral cat trap, neuter, vaccinate, and return programs, and pet socialization programs. Since its inception, the “no-kill” movement – led by organizations like Best Friends Animal Society – has been credited with saving the lives of millions of animals.
The citizens of this State have a right to expect that animal shelters and pounds are doing everything in their power to protect the lives of pets, including implementing “no-kill” policies. This resolution would further urge animal shelters, pounds, humane societies, and rescue organizations to participate in the New Jersey Department of Health’s annual voluntary Animal Intake and Disposition Survey.