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Legislative Report
By
Priscilla Gabosch
NEW JERSEY STATE LEGISLATION
Update on A2324 –
This bill had been withdrawn thanks to everyone’s
efforts. It would have allowed municipalities to
institute an additional license for anyone who sells or
intends to sell 10 or more animals in a year.
New
Alert
RESPONSIBLE PIT BULL OWNERSHIP LICENSING ACT S1718
This
bill imposes a variety of conditions on American Pit
Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers,
Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Terrier, and
“Pit Bull type Dogs.” S1718 declares these
breeds to be dangerous and would require their owners
to:
· Pay licensing fees of as much as $700
Obtain hard to get liability insurance
Muzzle dogs when off premises
Prove that their dog is NOT a Pit Bull or Pit Bull mix
S1718
punishes the breed and not the deed. There has been
discussion to add more breeds to the list. If you
allow this bill to pass, then your breed may be next.
The
bill is sponsored by Senator Sharpe James; at this time
there is no co-sponsor. Last session this bill was
S2381/A2906. You may remember that last year Assembly
Bill A2906 was introduced (and subsequently withdrawn)
by Assemblymen John Burzichelli and Gary Guear. At that
time they claimed this bill was designed to be
pre-emptive; however, the very statistics and rationale
upon which it is based are flawed.
What
you can do to help:
1. If you haven’t already contacted your State Senator
you need to do so NOW. Call, e-mail, or write
him/her. Tell him/her of your opposition and ask that
they do not support the bill.
2.
Contact Senator Sharpe James (the sponsor of the bill)
and tell him of your opposition. His contact
information is 50 Park Place, Suite 1535, Newark, NJ
07102, Tel (973) 622-0007 email: senjames@njleg.org
3.
Get as many signatures as you can on the petition.
4. The Bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on
Economic Growth. It is imperative to kill this Bill so
that it fails to get out of the Committee. For this
reason, it is also important to call, e-mail, or write
each of the Committee members. The Committee is
comprised of:
Senator Martha Bark: 3000 Midlantic Dr., Suite 103,
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054
Tel.: (856)-234-8080 Email:
senbark@njleg.org
Senator Joseph V. Doria:Bayonne Municipal Bldg., 630
Avenue “C”, Bayonne, NJ 07002
Tel.: (201)-858-6010 Email:
sendoria@njleg.org or mayor@bayonnenj.org
Senator Joseph Kyrillos: One Arin Park Bldg., Ste 303,
1715 Hwy. 35, Middletown, NJ 07748
Tel.: (732)-671-3206. Email: senkyrillos@njleg.org
Senator Joseph Vitale: 87 Main St., Woodbridge, NJ
07095
Tel: (732)-855-7441. Email: senvitale@njleg.org
Senator Raymond Lesniak: 985 Stuyvesant Ave., Union,
NJ 07083
Tel: (908)- 624-0880. Email: senlesniak@njleg.org
*Senator Lesniak has the power to kill this bill!
Tell
them that this Bill penalizes perfectly innocent dogs,
just because they happen to be of a particular breed.
Not one animal organization has supported this bill.
Remind them that the State already has a Dangerous Dog
Law, NJ 4: 19 and that it has been effective. Ask for
better enforcement of existing municipal laws including
leash laws. Most attacks have occurred with unleashed
pets. Also ask for stiffer penalties to be given to
criminals who use dogs in the commission of a crime.
WE
MUST NOT LET UP THE PRESSURE. OUR TACTICS HAVE BEEN
WORKING.
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OTHER PROPOSED STATE
BILLS CONCERNING DOGS:
A
1135 prohibits the use of certain underwriting
guidelines which result in the declination or
termination of homeowners insurance policy based upon
the type or specific breed of dog harbored on the
insured property. The provisions of the bill would not
apply if the dog harbored on the property is declared
potentially dangerous or vicious by a municipal court.
Two Primary Sponsor are Assemblyman Joseph Azzolina and
Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez. (Assembly Financial
Institutions and Insurance Committee). The NJFDC
supports this bill. See the petititon.
A
2570
Permits tenants in rentals premises to keep certain pet
animals. It was referred to Referred to Assembly
Housing and Local Government Committee and in May was
reported out of Committee with amendments, 2nd
reading. The amendments require a dog or cat to be
spayed or neutered within 30 days in order to be
considered a pet animal. Two Primary Sponsors are
Assemblymen Wilfredo Caraballo and Neil M. Cohen.
Co-Sponsored by Assemblyman John F. McKeon.
BE PRO-ACTIVE
CONTACT YOUR ASSEMBLYMEN/WOMEN
CONTACT YOUR SENATOR
Local Legislation: Manville’s Board of Health
held a public hearing July 28 on revisions to its animal
control law regarding noise nuisances and limiting the
number of pets residents may own. The AKC wrote a
letter of opposition and sent materials to Borough
officials. The NJFDC spoke at the hearing.
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