Friday, January 27, 2017
New Jersey Senate Bill 1640 (Senate Committee Substitute 1640) is scheduled to for a hearing by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee this Monday, January 30.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) has strong concerns about numerous provisions in the measure. As currently written, the bill mischaracterizes “cruel” and bans even temporary tethering in a variety of humane circumstances, including the use of a grooming table for grooming or exhibition or tethering by disabled owners of service dogs who rely on being able to tether their dogs at night.
AKC encourages New Jersey’s fanciers and enthusiasts to first call or email members of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and urge them to not advance SCS 1640.
Second, the AKC strongly encourages all concerned New Jersey residents to appear in opposition to SCS 1640 at Monday’s meeting.
The American Kennel Club abhors cruel and negligent treatment of animals. We support strong enforcement of cruelty laws that punish cruelty wherever it may occur. However, SCS 1640 does little to improve New Jersey’s cruelty laws and creates arbitrary requirements that could actually harm responsible dog ownership.
In New Jersey, 116 dog clubs are affiliated with the American Kennel Club. In 2015, the AKC sanctioned more than 480 dog shows and educational dog events in the state, at which more than 82,500 dogs and their owners participated. These family-friendly events are not only educational, but they are also a source of revenue for the communities where they take place. One average, dog show exhibitors spend $684 on a weekend event, and a medium-sized weekend show can bring $850,000 into a community. In its current form, SB 1640 may ultimately harm AKC events and the positive economic impact they have on communities.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
First, all New Jersey fanciers and enthusiasts are encouraged to contact the members of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and urge them to not advance SCS 1640 as currently written.
State Senator Paul A. Sarlo, Chair
(201) 804-8118
sensarlo@njleg.org
State Senator Brian P. Stack, Vice Chair
(201) 721-5263
senstack@njleg.org
State Senator Jennifer Beck
(732) 933-1591
senbeck@njleg.org
State Senator Anthony R. Bucco
(973) 627-9700
senbucco@njleg.org
State Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez
(856) 541-1251
sencruzperez@njleg.org
State Senator Sandra B. Cunningham
(201) 451-5100
sencunningham@njleg.org
State Senator Patrick J. Diegnan
(908) 757-1677
sendiegnan@njleg.org
State Senator Linda R. Greenstein
(609) 395-9911
sengreenstein@njleg.org
State Senator Kevin J. O’Toole
(973) 237-1360
senotoole@njleg.org
State Senator Steven J. Oroho
(973) 300-0200
senoroho@njleg.org
State Senator M. Teresa Ruiz
(973) 484-1000
senruiz@njleg.org
State Senator Samuel D. Thompson
(732) 607-7580
senthompson@njleg.org
State Senator Jeff Van Drew
(609) 465-0700
SenVanDrew@njleg.org
Concerned New Jersey residents are strongly encouraged to attend Monday’s meeting of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and express opposition to SCS 1640. The meeting is currently scheduled for 1PM in Committee Room 4, which is on the first floor of the State House Annex, 125 W. State St #2, Trenton, NJ 08608. Because SCS 1640 is one of 17 bills scheduled to be considered on Monday, AKC encourages those planning to attend to arrive early.
For more information about SCS 1640 or other pending legislation in New Jersey, contact AKC’s Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org.