That's all I can stands.. I can't stands no more!!!

[momcat]

Hi PT friends! Well, the project is officially under way. There are several New Jersey statues in my back pack ready to be reviewed. These are related to pet shops and shelters. Just a cursory glance when I pulled them shows this section gets into licensing requirements for these facilities: sanitation, building code requirements, licensing fees for pet shops - shelters are exempt from this fee, facility inspections, license revocations. There are even statutory sanctions for pet shops that sell sick animals! The State agencies involved so far are the Department of Health & Senior Services, the Department of Community Affairs, and the Department of Agriculture though others may show up as this develops. That's just a very general overview, can't wait to get into the specifics.

In this section one of the things I'll be looking for is what the law says about dog and cat overpopulation. The plan is to tie it in with shelters both public and private. The point needs to be made that ALL shelters provide a valuable service to the community by limiting the number of strays and ferals out fending for themselves. People everywhere complain about cats and dogs running loose in their neighborhoods but all they do is gripe about it while some resort to intentional abuse. If shelters and rescues get the help they deserve this problem could decerase especially with TNR initiatives.

There's still much more research to be done before all of this can be put together. The highlighters and pens are ready.....

[Catty1]

It wouldn't surprise me if you found that there are some good laws that are just NOT ENFORCED.

If even one government at any level changes, it is more likely that it will catch the attention of others.

Your point about animals running loose and being a nuisance to people is interesting - sometimes the only way these concerns get heard is if it is pointed out that they hurt PEOPLE. *sigh* For the good of the tax-paying citizen, not the animals.

Seems like you want to make this as practical-sounding as possible.

Way to go! You are DOING something!

HUGS to you!

[momcat]

Seems like you want to make this as practical-sounding as possible.

Thanks, Catty1! This is being based on current New Jersey Statutes, Administrative Law, and NJ Court Rules. Once I have all that I'll pull case law on animal issues to see how our courts are handling it. My approach is to use documented statutory and judiciary facts to drive the point a bit harder. I don't know what others have done in the past, bless them for their efforts. I'm looking to hit them with a reality check.