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6/28/01
Karen Dixon, president of Animal Welfare Federation of NJ, told us that after holding regional Town Meetings all around the state, the five most important topics were reported to be: Strengthening the state's anti-cruelty laws; Obtaining field investigators; Mandating spay/neuter; Raising the differential for licensing fees between spayed/neutered and intact animals; and Encouraging municipalities to have a census to help raise money for the APC fund. There is a need for advocacy for multiple animal owners and feral caretakers.
Karen also reported that a Legislative Coalition has been created, with representatives from AWFNJ, the NJ Animal Control Officers' Association, the ASPCA, Humane Society of the US, the NJ Veterinary Medical Association, NJ Lawyers In Defense of Animals, and SHARE. Yes, our coalition of shelters and rescue groups has been included. The Legislative Coalition will meet every other month, with up to two representatives but only one vote for each group. I urge everyone reading this to get in touch with me through SHARE on a regular basis and let me know your views on issues so you can be represented.
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7/27/01
As I told you in the last SHARE newsletter, a group has been formed to work on animal legislation in NJ. The New Jersey Animal Legislative Coalition currently includes American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Animal Welfare Federation of New Jersey (AWFNJ), Associated Humane Societies (AHS), Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association (NJVMA), New Jersey Certified Animal Control Officers Association (NJCACOA), Petfinder.com, and SHelter And REscue (SHARE). Each member organization has one vote, which means that SHARE is equal to every other group represented in the coalition. It is an extraordinary honor for SHARE to be included in this group, and I hope all of you will take full advantage of this opportunity.
The mission statement for NJALC is: "To work as a unified voice to further legislation that elevates the quality of life and standards of care for animals."
The next meeting of the group is August 23, 2001, and each group has been asked to bring our top five legislative issues. We will discuss and refine the lists and determine which issues we will work on during the next legislative session. There was agreement that the number one issue to be immediately addressed is to update and improve animal cruelty laws and enforcement thereof.
Since SHARE is a very informal coalition of SHelter And REscue groups and individuals, I am asking you to get your ideas and suggestions to me, in writing, no later than August 16. I will put a list together (it may be more than six issues, depending upon what I hear from you) and I'll present the list to the NJALC. This is a great chance to have direct input in the legislative process, so it's extremely important to get your comments to me right away!
Also, the meetings are scheduled for 10:00 AM on Thursday mornings, and I will need one or more people to represent SHARE (I'm a school teacher, and I can go during summer vacation, but once school starts, it will be hard to get time off). The meetings are in Eatontown, NJ, over an hour ride. So please let me know if you're interested and available to attend one or more meetings. (Carol Greenday and Barbara Ross have already offered to go to at least some meetings.)
Since the coalition is going to be working on legislation, we need contacts with legislators. If you have any positive contacts with any state senators or assembly people, please let me know who they are and what the connections are. We will be looking for legislators to sponsor positive bills and to oppose harmful legislation.
Meanwhile, I'll keep you posted about what the group is working on and any legislative matters that we discuss.
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After the SHARE meeting, Barbara Ross sent a few suggestions for NJALC by email:
1. Easiest, as it would then cover lots, but hardest to pass: animal rights. Right to life (we can leave off liberty and pursuit of happiness!!). Once they had legal rights, they couldn't be killed, beaten, etc. without legal ramifications. Barring that . . .
2. Statewide animal cruelty rules defined and enforceable by law enforcement, as in other states. Cite CA case of Bichon being killed. Killing a dog should be a felony.
3. Statewide MANDATORY altering of all animals before they leave a shelter.
4. Statewide education on humane treatment of animals, starting at daycare, kindergarten, very young.
5. Something I didn't mention, but that I became aware of when discussing a PA shelter with a PA rescuer friend. There is a shelter there that puts ANYTHING OVER A YEAR OLD down!!!! I was amazed that there were no shelter standards and rules. People take their animals there and have no idea they will be killed! There should be some definition of conditions under which an animal can be killed.
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8/23/01
News from the NJ Animal Legislation Coalition meeting of August 23. The Governor is going to sign the Bagger Bill, which will provide up to $50,000 for each county that chooses to do so for the purpose of determining what animal control is already in place and developing a countywide plan for improvements. There is some concern that the bill provides no requirement for improvements, but it is a step in the right direction and will hopefully provide an incentive for counties to make improvements. There was also a discussion about creating a survey to be sent to legislators regarding their position on various animal issues. At the next meeting, there will be a discussion about lobbying techniques.
As I said in the last SHARE newsletter, each of the coalition's member groups were asked to bring their five top legislative issues. These issues will be combined into those issues that all the groups can agree upon, and they will be the primary focus for the next legislative year. I received very few responses, but was able to compile the five that appeared most often.
SHARE's 5 top priorities
1. Mandatory humane education programs throughout all NJ public schools, from kindergarten through 12th grade. Programs to be developed by animal advocacy groups and provided to schools with state funding.
2. Mandatory spay/neuter of domestic animals, including dogs, cats and rabbits, prior to adoption from any animal shelter, rescue group, or similar nonprofit or publicly funded organization.
3. Statewide animal cruelty rules defined and statewide enforcement of animal cruelty statutes, including adequate funding and training for investigative and enforcement personnel. Effective and enforceable felony statutes relating to animal cruelty and neglect. Mandatory psychiatric counseling for all those convicted of egregious animal cruelty crimes, especially when these crimes are committed by minors.
4. Statewide enforcement of pet licensing requirements. Statewide increase in the differential in the cost to license a pet based upon whether the animal is spayed/neutered. The differential is currently $4 and should be increased to at least $20 and preferably $50. All differential money should continue to fund spay/neuter programs statewide.
5. Legal recognition of domestic animals as legal entities of greater priority than "property," including the ability for animals to inherit property for their care under a will.
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