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December 2006
REPORT OF
THE LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
FEDERAL LEGISLATION
The AKC has endorsed S.
3880, the Animal Enterprise Protection Act (AETA). The bill was
introduced by Sen. James Inhofe and principal co-sponsor, Sen. Diane
Feinstein in early September and passed the senate by unanimous consent on
September 30, 2006. It is expected to be taken up by the House of
Representatives early in the post election “lame duck” session. The AKC is
asking all dog owners and hobbyists to contact their U.S. Representative to
urge them to support AETA.
NEW JERSEY STATE
LEGISLATION
Assembly Bill 1827 (was Assembly
Bill 3219 last year). This Bill requires all cats and dogs released
from pounds and shelters be sterilized with the exceptions of owners who can
prove they have been active in AKC activities. The bill also establishes a
special fund for sterilizations and increases the fee for unsterilized dogs
to be increased from $3 to $20 and the dog license fee to be increased to
$10. The effect of these increases is that an unsterilized dog would cost
$30 per year and the license for a sterilized dog would be $10 per year.
Joan Tabor and Barbara Wicklund of
the NJ Federation of Dog Clubs met with Assemblywoman Greenstein, who is the
primary sponsor of the Bill, her Legislative Assistant, the author/proponent
of the Bill, and representatives of the Associated Humane Society on
September 29, 2006. There will be substantive changes made to the Bill and
we were told that a revised copy will be forwarded to us, prior to any
Committee hearings. It is unlikely that dogs can be sterilized without an
owner’s consent, prior to seven days after impound, upon which the animals
become property of the shelter (prior to that property laws apply).
Assembly Bill 3542, whose
primary sponsor is Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew, is almost identical to
Assembly Bill 1827, (see above). Assemblyman Van Drew is a
co-sponsor of Assembly Bill 1827. It is likely that both bills
eventually will be merged into one bill.
Those wishing to voice an opinion
on either bill, should contact :
Assemblywoman Linda R. Greenstein
(AB 1827)
7 Centre Drive
Monroe, NJ 08831-1565
(Phone) 609-395-9911
(FAX) 609-395-9032
Asm.Greenstein@njleg.org
And
Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew
District Office: 21 North Main
Street, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 (609)-465-0700
Fax 609-465-4578
District Office: 223 East Main Street, Millville, NJ 08332 (856)-293-8353
Fax 856-293-1501
District Office: 1028 East Landis
Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360 (856)-696-7109
Fax 856-696-7159
Asm.VanDrew@njleg.org
Assembly Bill 2649. The Animal
Cruelty Bill. The draft animal cruelty bill is currently under review.
Assemblyman Van Drew has scheduled a final meeting on November
30, to review these extensive changes. Priscilla Gabosch and Barbara
Wicklund plan to attend and represent the NJFDC.
News from the Municipalities
The sabers are rattling again in
Bridgeton, NJ, over breed specific legislation (BSL). The local
newspaper reported that a 12 year-old Bridgeton boy was attacked by a
pit bull while playing football at a friend’s home, requiring 250 stitches
to the face. The next day two pit bulls badly mauled their owner in
Woodbine, NJ.
The Bridgeton City Council
president, Nick Salvatore, believes that Bridgeton should ban pit bulls and
other dangerous breeds. Bridgeton Councilwoman Celeste Riley believes that
a pit bull ban would be a “knee-jerk” reaction.
Contact Information:
Phone 856-455-3230
Darlene Richmond, RMC
Municipal Clerk
856-455-3232 ext. 226
City council public meetings are
held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 PM.
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