New Jersey
Updates about legal issues facing animals in the state
The Animal Legal Defense Fund works at the federal, state and local levels to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals.
Animal Protection Laws Ranking
Each year, the Animal Legal Defense Fund publishes its U.S. State Animal Protection Laws Rankings Report. Each state is ranked based on 20 different categories of animal protection.
New Jersey
Overall Rank: #17 (Middle Tier)
- +Care requirements (food, water, shelter, care, etc.) are well-defined
- +Animal fighting is a state RICO predicate offense
- -Veterinarians are not required to report suspected animal cruelty
- -No provisions for pre-conviction restitution or forfeiture
- -Prohibition on leaving animals in hot cars, but law enforcement does not have immunity to rescue
Animal Protection Laws of New Jersey
The Animal Protection Laws of New Jersey compendium contains the general animal protection and related statutes for New Jersey with an effective date on or before September 1, 2022.
Legislative Session
Active Legislation
An Act concerning the surgical declawing of cats and other animals (New Jersey)
S.1803/A.2578
This bill would prohibit the surgical declawing of cats and other animals in New Jersey, except in rare cases of medical necessity for the cat.
Courtroom Animal Advocate Program (New Jersey)
A.1965/S.2211
Courtroom Animal Advocate Program (CAAP) laws allow advocates — supervised law students or volunteer lawyers — to advocate for animal victims in criminal cruelty cases.
Banning Killing Contests (New Jersey)
A.502/S.2409
Proposed legislation would prohibit harassing or killing certain wildlife at competitive events.
An Act Concerning the Feeding of Black Bear (New Jersey)
A.1967/S.1891
This important “Bear Smart” bill aims to protect black bears in New Jersey by preventing unintentional feeding, a root cause of human-bear interactions.
Active Cases
No results found.
Take Action
Take action now to help animals in your state.
New Jersey: Bears Need Protection
Bill A.1967/S.1891 would prohibit the irresponsible practice of intentional and unintentional feeding of black bears, to reduce human-bear encounters.
New Jersey: Ask Your Legislators to Protect Animal Cruelty Victims!
Tell legislators that you support a bill that would create a Courtroom Animal Advocate Program (CAAP) in New Jersey.
New Jersey: Urge Your Legislators to Ban Cruel Killing Contests
A.502 would prohibit harassing or killing certain wildlife at competitive events and is now being considered by the New Jersey Legislature.
Stop Ag-Gag Laws
Undercover investigations and whistleblowers have exposed some of the worst aspects of factory farming, but Ag-Gag laws punish people who speak out about cruelty in animal agriculture. Voice your opposition.
No More Puppy Mills
Puppy mill operators maximize their profits by producing large numbers of puppies as quickly as possible. As a result, unsanitary conditions, disease, and neglect are rampant. Sign our pledge to boycott puppy mills. Together we can end cruel puppy mills.
Passing Local Legislation: Retail Pet Sale Ban
In this free webinar, we walk you through the basics of how to pass a retail pet sale bans in your community — a powerful way to fight back against puppy mills.
Passing Local Legislation: Prohibiting Animals in Circuses and Traveling Shows
This webinar will focus on passing a local prohibition on animals used in circuses and other traveling shows.
Recent Victories
Funds to Care for Animal Cruelty Victims (New Jersey)
New Jersey Cost of Care Bill (A.2354/S.981)
Currently, New Jersey animal care agencies bear the cost of caring for animal cruelty victims, an expense that can be financially overwhelming. The Cost of Care bill would address this problem.
Prohibiting the Sale of Cosmetics Tested on Animals (New Jersey)
Prohibits the sale of cosmetics that were developed or manufactured using animal tests on or after March 1, 2022 (A.795/ S.1726)
The New Jersey Humane Cosmetics Act, A.795/ S.1726, prohibits the sale of cosmetics that were developed or manufactured using animal tests on or after March 1, 2022.
Gestation and Veal Crate Ban (New Jersey)
A.1970/S.1298
Would ban gestation crates and veal crates, mandating mother pigs and calves have enough space to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs.
Animal Legal Defense Fund 2022 State Animal Protection Laws Ranking Report
See the best and worst states for animal protection laws