Animal advocates are asking the state Legislature to step up a fee to ban the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores in New Jersey over opposition from business owners who say the law will hurt consumers and lead to their stores closing.
The State Senate Economic Growth committee heard Monday from animal activists on the proposed legislation, including former state Senator Ray Lesniak. Lesniak appeared in Trenton to testify in support of the bill, recalling a bill he sponsored in 2017 to regulate puppy mills vetoed by Gov. Chris Christie.
“We’re there. We’re there at the finish line,” he said. “Now, it’s definitely time to take it back.”
The new bill would repeal the state’s Pet Purchase Protection Act and replace it with new restrictions on pet stores and guidelines for adoption centers.
Current law requires stores to source animals from breeders in good standing and licensed by the US Department of Agriculture. Breeders who do not possess proper state and federal licenses or violate certain animal welfare laws are prohibited from selling animals in New Jersey.
Brian Hackett with the Associated Humane Society said the new law would stop the “irresponsible and inhumane” sale of animals. Despite the current laws in place, there was a lack of oversight that allowed irresponsible breeders to sell dogs in New Jersey stores, he said. He said many other states, including New York, have passed similar bills to protect pets.
“If New Jersey doesn’t pass this law by 2024, some of the bad actors in New York will cross the river into our state,” he said.
Under the bill, pet stores can sell other animals, such as snakes or lizards, and sell pet supplies, while animal rescue organizations and shelters are prohibited. to get cats, dogs, or rabbits from breeders.
Pet stores found selling cats, dogs, or rabbits face a $500 fine for each violation.
Pet store owners argue that the proposed new rules are too onerous. Law-abiding business owners will see their stores close, they say, while people looking for dogs, cats, and rabbits won’t have the consumer protections they have under current law. .
Charles Morton, an employee at Shake-a-Paw in Green Brook, said families should be able to choose whether to adopt a pet or buy one at a store. Some people want to adopt a dog from a shelter, but others are looking for specific breeds or younger puppies.
If pet stores are banned from selling certain animals, people will be forced to choose between adopting a dog from a shelter or buying one online, possibly from substandard breeders, said Shake-A-Paw owner Jeff Morton.
“Do we want New Jersey residents to be left in the dark with no consumer protection, no guarantee of help, left on the dark web not knowing where the puppies came from?” said the owner of the pet store. “Or do we want customers to continue to buy puppies from highly regulated sources like pet stores in New Jersey?”
Sen. suggested. Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden), chairwoman of the committee, asked the speakers to contact the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Brian Stack (D-Hudson). The bill did not receive a vote from the committee on Monday, and it is unclear whether a vote will be scheduled before the legislative session ends in early January. The proposal is not accompanied by an Assembly bill.
Stack did not respond to a request for comment.
Another Stack bill, one that would mandate licensing for pet groomers, also caught the attention of pet store owners and animal groups on Monday. Currently, no licensing or testing is required to groom pets in New Jersey.
Under the measure, prospective groomers would have to be 18 years old, of good moral character, and pass an exam approved by the state’s Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. The bill does not apply to students in board-registered schools or people who are practicing in preparation in anticipation of the exam.
The bill would also require grooming businesses to provide pets with an adequate water supply and adequate lighting, set up surveillance cameras inside and outside the business, and prevent the use of drying cages. Businesses are required to submit annual reports to the state board on any injuries or deaths at the facility, veterinary treatment plans, and any pet escapes.
Lynn Paolillo, founder of the New Jersey Professional Pet Groomers Alliance and a groomer for nearly 20 years, opposes the bill. He said it doesn’t account for groomers who already have knowledge and training, and he called the surveillance footage requirements for business owners “invasive” and costly.
Chris Anthony, another member of the pet groomers alliance, said there is a shortage of pet groomers amid a surge in pet ownership during the pandemic. The industry needs more regulators, and the state should not make it difficult to become one, he said.
“Not only does it protect the animals it wants to care for, but it has the potential to harm animals by driving groomers out of the profession through prohibitive costs and extensive testing,” he said.
The committee did not vote on the proposal Monday.
