We are asking Governor Mikie Sherrill to convene an evidence-based dialogue with a broad range of New Jersey animal advocates and responsible State officials about animal-cruelty enforcement, county oversight, shelter care, and dependable impoundment access. Companion Animal Advocates, NJ can serve as an initial contact to help coordinate participation and supporting records.

New Jersey established its Humane Law Enforcement system through P.L.2017, c.331, which passed the Senate 29–0 and the Assembly 63–0, with five abstentions and no opposing votes. The Legislature placed cruelty enforcement within trained law enforcement and county prosecutorial oversight. The Legislature’s intent and the spirit of the law must translate into timely investigations, protection from suffering, and accountability.

Municipal Humane Law Enforcement Officers have investigative, enforcement, and county-notification duties. Animal Control assistance must not replace those responsibilities. When cruelty determinations are deferred to an ACO who is not acting as a designated HLEO, both the municipal response and county oversight warrant review.

A sampling of records and correspondence raise serious concerns like:

• In Trenton, records described dogs as “thin and dirty,” on short tow chains, with inadequate-shelter concerns. The prosecutor initially relied on Animal Control’s licensing, vaccination, and breeding summonses to conclude that further action was unwarranted. He later stated that a trained HLEO investigated but cited no HLEO-issued warnings or summonses addressing those conditions. No report provided documents what the HLEO observed or verified correction. Further records have been requested.
• In two shelter cases, one dog reportedly was not taken for emergency care as a veterinarian instructed; another remained for six days over Thanksgiving, with a thin body condition noted at intake and a documented body-condition score of 2/9. Both needlessly suffered before they died.
• A dog reportedly shot by a neighbor and left suffering beside the road became the subject of animal-cruelty and firearms charges after months of advocacy prompted reconsideration of an initial decision to decline prosecution.
• Police body-camera footage in another case shows an ACO dragging a dog on the ground by a catch pole around her neck, then standing a few feet away talking with a police officer while she gasped for breath. The April 24, 2025 incident resulted in municipal-level charges more than a year later, following sustained advocacy.
• Impoundment failures also threaten public health and safety. Vineland is among more than a dozen municipalities reported to lack dependable access, with some gaps lasting nearly two years. During its July 14, 2026 court proceeding, Vineland described a “health and public safety crisis.” These gaps affect lost and stray pets, bite and rabies observation, and cruelty seizures. Officers need appropriately licensed facilities that will actually accept animals when custody is required.

Despite repeated requests to NJDOH and the Attorney General’s Office, advocates have not received an effective resolution. NJDOH acknowledged capacity concerns in February 2025, yet gaps continued.

We ask the Governor to bring advocates and responsible State officials together to review investigative delays, county HLEO and prosecutorial oversight, NJDOH’s response to shelter-care and impoundment concerns, and concrete corrective steps.

New Jersey’s laws must work in practice—to prevent avoidable suffering and protect animals and communities.

Terry Peifer, Founder
Companion Animal Advocates, NJ
CompanionAANJ@outlook.com
732-800-2527