• Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
Home Cat Laws

New Jersey Animal Protection Bills Pass Full Senate Vote

BCR by BCR
June 21, 2012
in Cat Laws
0 0
1
Protected: HR483
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

LESNIAK ANIMAL CRUELTY BILLS

APPROVED BY FULL SENATE

 

Measures Would Crack Down on Black-Market Trade in Tigers,

Prohibit ‘Gestation Crates’ for Pigs

 

TRENTON – A pair of bills sponsored by Senator Raymond J. Lesniak which would crack down on the illegal trade of tigers and prohibit inhumane ‘gestation crates’ which restrict pigs’ freedom of movement was approved by the Senate today.

 

The bills are part of a larger legislative push by Senator Lesniak to address animal cruelty in the Garden State.

 

“Animals are God’s creations as much as humans,” said Senator Lesniak, D-Union. “These bills recognize that cruelty to animals and threats to their extinction need to be eliminated. If we’re serious about justice, fairness and compassion for all living beings, we have to extend those same considerations in our dealings with people as well as with animals.”

 

The first bill, S-945, would require the State Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to administer a system in which private owners or zoos which own tigers would register certain information with the State. Under the bill, tiger owners would be required to provide their name, address and telephone number, the address and exact location where the tiger is kept, the birth date, weight and sex of the tiger, a description of any distinguishing marks and a digital color photograph of the tiger, a hair sample or other tissue sample sufficient to provide DNA analysis of the tiger, and the name, address and telephone number of the veterinarian who cares for the tiger. The bill would also require private owners to have a subcutaneous microchip implanted in the tiger’s neck with the tiger’s identifying information.

 

The bill also stipulates that within five days of a tiger’s death, the tiger’s owner would be required to submit the tiger’s remains to a qualified disposal agent or directly to the Department to dispose of the remains properly, and the owner would be required to submit a sworn affidavit to DEP detailing the time and cause of death.

 

Senator Lesniak noted that the black market for tiger body parts, among other factors, has resulted in the animals being hunted to near-extinction worldwide. Over the last century, the world’s tiger population has fallen from about 100,000 to just 3,200 in the wild according to the World Wildlife Fund. Tigers are hunted, bought and sold not only for their teeth, skins and claws, but also for their body parts, which are used in many traditional Asian medicines. Senator Lesniak added that the body parts of a single tiger can be sold for a sum of $10,000 or more on the black market.

 

“This bill puts New Jersey at the forefront – nationally and internationally – in efforts to protect tigers from extinction,” said Senator Lesniak. “This is one small step for the New Jersey tiger population, but one giant step for the recognition of the cruelty of trading in tiger parts and the worldwide threat of extinction of one of God’s magnificent creations. Today, we’re sending a message to the international community that New Jersey will not be complicit in the eradication of tigers, and that we will make sure that the illegal trade in tiger body parts does not take place within our borders.”

 

S-945 was approved by a vote of 37-0, and now heads to the Governor to be signed into law.

 

The second bill in the package, S-1921, would establish an animal cruelty offense of cruel confinement of a gestating pig as a disorderly persons charge. The bill would define cruel confinement as crating, confining or tethering a gestating sow in order to prevent the free range of motion. Under the bill, a violator would be guilty of a disorderly persons offense, punishable by a fine of between $250 and $1,000 and up to six months imprisonment – and each gestating sow that is cruelly confined would be considered a separate offense. The bill would also subject violators to an additional civil penalty of between $250 and $1,000 to be recovered in the name of the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or a county society for the prevention of animal cruelty.

 

The bill would create exemptions for medical research, veterinary examination or treatment, transportation, education or exhibition, animal husbandry, humane slaughter, or the proper care of the animal during the seven-day period prior to the expected date of the animal giving birth.

 

The “gestation crate” or sow stall, is a small metal enclosure used in intensive pig farming, in which female breeding pigs are enclosed in a space so small as to prohibit the pig from turning around or lying down comfortably. Shortly after giving birth, the piglets are taken away and the sow is re-impregnated to start the whole process over again. Pork producers argue that the crates are necessary because sows that are housed together in pens will fight – but opponents note that immobilizing animals in crates increases the animals’ stress levels, and can cause other health problems.

 

“In practice, gestation crates lead to animal overcrowding and inhumane treatment for pregnant sows,” said Senator Lesniak. “There are certainly other, more humane alternatives to allow pregnant pigs to maintain free range of motion while separating animals which may be prone to aggression during their pregnancies. This bill calls on pig farmers in the Garden State to adopt more humane options to undersized gestation crates which lead to undue stress and inhumane treatment of the animals.”

 

S-1921 was approved by a vote of 35-1, and now heads to the Assembly for consideration.

Tags: tigers
Previous Post

Today at Big Cat Rescue June 21

Next Post

Today at Big Cat Rescue June 22 a Kickstarter for a Book to Benefit BCR

Next Post
Today at Big Cat Rescue June 22 a Kickstarter for a Book to Benefit BCR

Today at Big Cat Rescue June 22 a Kickstarter for a Book to Benefit BCR

Leave a Reply

  • Default Comments (1)
  • Facebook Comments

Comments 1

  1. Karen Fleury says:
    10 years ago

    I want to know WHO was the 1 vote against ending use of gestation crates. I think the voting public should know.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Recent Articles

  • You called? Where are my snacks? Summer bobcat BigCatRescue August 12, 2022
  • Caturday swimmers! Priya and Dutchess tigers at Big Cat Rescue August 12, 2022
  • So many rolls. Aria tiger at Big Cat Rescue August 12, 2022

Recent Comments

  • Danny Swan on Relax and enjoy Florida bobcats if you see them
  • Deb Quimby on Private Group Tours
  • Winifred Colclough on Private Group Tours
  • Deb Quimby on MaryAnn
  • Dawn Sheers on MaryAnn

Save Big Cats

Donate to Big Cat Rescue

Sanctuary Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

More from Big Cats

  • Big Cat Rescue is Live 24/7 on Webcams
  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Big Cat Rescue News
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV
You called? Where are my snacks? Summer bobcat BigCatRescue

You called? Where are my snacks? Summer bobcat BigCatRescue

August 12, 2022
Caturday swimmers! Priya and Dutchess tigers at Big Cat Rescue

Caturday swimmers! Priya and Dutchess tigers at Big Cat Rescue

August 12, 2022
So many rolls. Aria tiger at Big Cat Rescue

So many rolls. Aria tiger at Big Cat Rescue

August 12, 2022
  • Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us

© Copyright 2022 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • 2018 Appeal
  • About BCR
  • About our Cookies
  • Account
  • BCR in the Media
  • Big Cat NFTS
  • Big Cat Rescue Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade
  • Big Cat Rescuers
  • Big Cat Times
  • Blog
  • Board of Directors
  • Browse Submissions
  • Connections
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Credentials
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Donate Crypto
  • Embed Link
  • Followers
  • Following
  • GET THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT CUB PETTING
  • Global Big Cat News
  • Intern Program
  • Join Us
    • Registration
  • Kids
  • Latest from Big Cat Rescue
  • Licensing
  • Login
  • Login
  • Logout
  • Logout
  • Malaya Bobcat
  • Map
  • Map of Big Cat Owners
  • Member Directory
  • Members
  • My Profile
    • Edit Profile
  • Netflix
  • News about Big Cats
  • News Gallery
  • News@BCR
  • Our Live Feeds
  • Password Reset
  • PressRoom
  • Privacy Policy
  • Register
  • Register
  • Register
    • Edit Your Profile
    • Update Billing Card
    • Welcome
    • Your Membership
  • Rescues
  • Search result
  • Series Archive – Default header
  • Shop
  • SnowLeopard
  • Social Stream
  • Staff
  • Submission Confirmed
  • Teachers
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Terms of Use
  • User
  • USFWS
  • Vets
  • Videos archive
  • Get Involved
    • Automatic
    • Sponsorships
    • Volunteer
      • AdvoCats
      • Click to Feed
      • Intern
    • Legacy
    • Roar! Speak Out for Big Cats
    • Ink
  • Finances
  • How We Started
  • Abuse Issues
    • Issues
      • Exhibitions
      • Private Ownership of Big Cats
      • Zoos
      • White Tigers
      • Circus
      • Fur
      • Trophy Hunting
      • Canned Hunting
      • Why Regulations Don’t Work
  • Our Evolution
  • Photos & Facts
  • Videos
  • Our Volunteers
  • Your Privacy
  • Donate
  • Site Map
  • Field Trips

© Copyright 2022 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist