The New Jersey Assembly Committee on Children, Families, and Food Security passed A. 4051 out of Committee. Both it and its Senate companion, S. 2511, have now passed out of committee in the New Jersey Legislature and are eligible to be considered by the full Senate and General Assembly (see previous alert).
These bills repeal New Jersey’s Pet Purchase Protection Act and impose a statewide ban on the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits by pet shops. If enacted, they would eliminate important consumer safeguards and remove a regulated source of pets for New Jersey families.
Now is a critical time for New Jersey residents to urge legislative leadership to not move these bills forward.
WHY THIS MATTERS
If enacted, S. 2511 and A. 4051 would:
• Repeal the Pet Purchase Protection Act, eliminating statutory consumer protections for pet purchasers;
• Remove regulated pet stores as an option for families seeking to acquire a pet;
• Force small, independently owned pet businesses to close by banning retail pet sales statewide;
• Limit consumer choice while driving pet acquisition toward unregulated online sources.
Local retail bans have already eliminated consumer protections in many New Jersey communities. These bills would expand those consequences statewide.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
New Jersey residents are strongly encouraged to contact legislative leadership immediately and respectfully urge them not to advance these bills for further consideration and explain why eliminating consumer protections for pet purchasers and forcing retail stores that support pet owners to go out of business would ultimately harm New Jersey dog owners.
STOP S. 2511 IN THE SENATE
Senator Nicholas P. Scutari, President of the New Jersey Senate
Phone: (732) 827-7480
Email: SenScutari@njleg.org
Senator M. Teresa Ruiz, Senate Majority Leader Phone:
Phone: (973) 484-1000
Email: SenRuiz@njleg.org
Additionally, to share comments about S. 2511 with members of the New Jersey Senate, click here to access the roster and click the appropriate link next to each member’s name.
STOP A. 4051 IN THE ASSEMBLY
Assemblyman Craig J. Coughlin, Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly
Phone: (732) 855-7441
Email: AsmCoughlin@njleg.org
Assemblyman Louis D. Greenwald, Assembly Majority Leader
Phone: (856) 435-1247
Email: AsmGreenwald@njleg.org
Additionally, to share comments about A. 4051 with members of the New Jersey Assembly, click here to access the roster and click the appropriate link next to each member’s name.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org or (919) 816-3720.