Funding for New Jersey Animal Shelters

On Monday, Dec. 10 2007, New Jersey's Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee will be conducting a public hearing on bill A. 4482 which seeks to provide state funding for existing animal shelters as well as providing funds to build new ones. There are 566 municipalities in New Jersey and only 42 public shelters to serve them. These 42 shelters are almost always filled to capacity, and the only way to make room for new arrivals is to euthanize current residents. The existing shelters are also in need of funds to care and house animals seized from cases involving animal cruelty and animal fighting investigations. The sponsor of this bill is Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-37). The ASPCA has given their full support for this bill, and they believe that the absence of funding hinders the enforcement of animal anti-cruelty laws. The source of the funding will come from a 25 cent assessment on defendants in municipal court cases.

The hearing will be at the State House Annex, 125 West State Street, Committee Room 12, 4th Floor, Trenton, NJ 08625. 10 am.

Please write or call your state representative to support A. 4482.