Post-conviction ownership bans for animal abuse are a recognized potential legal consequence in at least forty states. In New Jersey, Moose’s Law, a bill which has been proposed since 2012, would prohibit people convicted of...more
As more and more couples are disputing pet custody issues when divorcing or separating, there is increasing concern in the legal community about how to fairly adjudicate these disputes, without unnecessarily burdening the...more
As previously described, NJ bill A1219 would require veterinarians or health officials to notify known pet owners prior to rabies testing of the deceased pet, which currently involves decapitation to provide maximum...more
Proposed New Jersey Assembly Bill A5715 (the “Rescue Animal Disclosure Act” or the “Bill”) which would provide for the regulation of animal rescue organizations and facilities (“Animal Rescue”) in New Jersey, was introduced...more
A recently decided case in North Carolina provides some guidance to landlords regarding their potential liability to a third party harmed by the pet of a tenant. (Note- I refer you to an attorney in one of our N.C. offices...more
The plethora of laws banning or limiting sales of dogs from pet stores to families seeking a dog for long term companionship, purportedly passed to shutter puppy mills, have done nothing to improve the lives of dogs bred and...more
The rapid spread of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) has sparked an interest in people all over the world to make sure their affairs are in order in case of sudden death or incapacitation. Many pet owners consider their...more
Kim Kavin, author of “The Dog Merchants” has started to uncover some of the truths in the world of dog rescues. Not that all rescues are bad, of course, but fact that rescues (and to some extent shelters) have largely...more
A newly introduced bill in New Jersey, S4156 and sister bill A5404 would establish civil action for damages for injury or death of certain animals in certain circumstances.
Those circumstances would include any unlawful...more
In “Dogs Are Not Here for Our Convenience,” an op-ed by Alexandra Horowitz published by the NYT on September 4, 2019, Dr. Horowitz questions the “widespread policies of desexing dogs, [because] we are not just removing their...more
Two articles were published about dogs (and cats) in the New York Times on September 4, 2019, that describe, in part, varying positions of a complicated issue-spay and neuter of pets in the United States—“Spaying, Neutering...more
A NJ bill just introduced would prohibit enforcement of provision in decedent’s will that would require euthanasia of healthy domestic companion animal. ...more
I was recently a panelist at the 2019 annual meeting of the New Jersey State Bar Association discussing legal issues about how to share pets after divorce. As pets become increasingly important in many households in the...more
Rabies is a nearly 100% fatal disease when unvaccinated animals and humans are exposed. As previously discussed the risk of exposure to rabies from dogs imported from other countries, especially from Egypt, has increased...more
Oregon HB 2804 was soundly defeated after hearing testimony from dog enthusiasts and veterinarians in a dogged effort by Patti Strand and the National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA) to educate the legislators about the harm...more
New Jersey bills S3551 and A5040 would require a vaccination schedule that is inconsistent with veterinary recommendations.
For example, the bills would require that “if the animal is a dog, [it] has received its first...more
Rocky’s Law, S3551 and its companion A5040, would require the mandatory registration of animal rescue organizations, as opposed to the current laws providing for voluntary registration. They would also would require all...more
HB 688, introduced on January 3, 2019, would-
I. Makes changes to the definition of pet vendor and defines hobby breeder.
II. Establishes the companion animal welfare division in the department of agriculture,...more
S3366 (Senator Stack) and identical bill A3684 (Assemblywomen Chaparro and McKnight) recently introduced bills that would expand the requirements of notification to animal owners before their animals were tested for rabies...more
Arizona bill HB 2328, a bill titled “pet dealers: purchaser remedies” includes a repeal of Section 44-1799.11 of the Arizona Revised Statutes in the last line of the bill. That section has nothing to do with purchaser...more
Bill A-4840 in the New Jersey Assembly, as currently drafted would interfere with the veterinarian-client-patient relationship and a pet owners ability to determine the proper care for their pets, and would provide animals...more
The AVMA is proposing an updated “Model Veterinary Practice Act” to its House of Delegates in the near future. Included in the draft, which is not legally binding by any state unless specifically incorporated into the state...more
Shamong Township introduced Ordinance 2018-11, governing dog ownership, on October 2, 2018, which passed by the Township Committee on a first reading of the ordinance. A public hearing is scheduled on November 7, 2018....more
On July 1, 2018, bill S2820 was introduced in the New Jersey Senate that would direct the NJ Department of Health to “adopt dog breeding standards; prohibit . . . dog breeding without {a] USDA license; and [require]...more
The impact of USDA’s newly adopted final rule to certain exhibitors of farm animals remains unclear.
A positive result of the rule is the definition of “domesticated farm-type animals.” Farm-type animals are defined as...more