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Important steps to reporting animal cruelty

Find out which agency is responsible for investigating and enforcing anti-cruelty laws in your state, county, or town. This may be a local humane society or a taxpayer-funded animal shelt er. In areas without such organizations, citizens should call the police or sheriff's department. For the State of NJ, if your animal control officer has NOT been appointed as an animal cruelty investigator as well, then you should call the NJSPA at 1 800 582 5989.If an animal is in a life-threatening situation, call your police department immediately. Follow up with them in a timely manner to determine their findings and their planned course of action.

If YOUR LOCAL POLICE OR NJSPCA do not respond right away or you are afraid to become involved NJ Aid for Animals will make the calls for you. After you contact authorities, prepare a short written statement detailing the key points of what you observed. Give dates, approximate times, and locations. Timely fact-gathering is crucial the more time that passes, the greater the risk that evidence will disappear, injuries will heal, or you'll forget specific details. Written statements from other witnesses will help back up your observations, and if possible, take pictures and date them? Photos or videos will strengthen your case.

Always keep a dated record of everyone you've contacted, along with the content and outcome of your discussions. Never forward a letter, photograph, or other documentation to anyone without first making a copy for your own files. Make it clear to authorities that you wish to pursue the case and that you are willing to lend your assistance if necessary. Be sure to follow up! If you stay involved, authorities are more likely to do the same.

If the first contact doesn't produce results, go straight to a supervisor. If that doesn't work, appeal to local government officials, such as the mayor, the district attorney, or city council members. A call to the media in your area (television and print) can move mountains. Above all, don't give up. You may be an animal's only hope!

Helping abused or neglected animals can be difficult and heart-wrenching, but they are depending on you to take action..

Click here for Michael VICK Case History and Updates
Vick Sentenced to 23 Months in Prison: Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison Monday for his role in a dogfighting conspiracy that involved gambling and killing pit bulls.The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback could have been sentenced up to five years
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Atlanta Falcons star Michael Vick delivered a very public apology for his involvement in dog fighting. But with or without Vick, dog fighting goes on. Now, a New Jersey group is doing all it can for former fighting dogs.

As Gerald Kolpan reports, they're using their disgust with Vick to raise the money to do it...click here or on video

New Jersey: Support Bill to Restrict Cruel, Dangerous Chaining of Dogs

Update 2/19/08

BILLS A2773 AND S1705 Establish animal cruelty offenses pertaining
to chaining or other restraint of animals.

Bills A2773 and S1705 were not posted for a vote during the last
legislative session. These are very important bills and we need your
help to get them reintroduced during the new session so that they
do not disappear forever.
Please contact the assemblymen and assemblywomen below.

HTTP://WWW.NJLEG.STATE.NJ.US/SELECTMUN.ASP

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR(S)

Copy and paste this letter:
"I respectfully request that bills A2773 and S1705 be reintroduced
during this new session.

Over thirty different states have communities with ordinances that ban,
limit time, or set are standards for chained dogs. Please reintroduce
and upgrade these bills to eliminate chaining altogether. By banning
dog chaining, we are moving in the right direction to a safer community."
TO CONTACT THE THREE ASSEMBLYMEN BELOW:
HTTP://WWW.NJLEG.STATE.NJ.US/MEMBERS/BIO.ASP?LEG=31
* Holzapfel, James W. as Primary Sponsor of A2773
* Wolfe, David W. as Primary Sponsor of A2773
* Ciesla, Andrew R. as Primary Sponsor of S1705

TO CONTACT THE TWO ASSEMBLYMEN BELOW:
HTTP://WWW.NJLEG.STATE.NJ.US/MEMBERS/BIO.ASP?LEG=299
* Van Drew, Jeff as Co-Sponsor of A2773
* Albano, Nelson T. as Primary Sponsor of A2773

TO CONTACT THE INDIVIDUAL ASSEMBLYMEN AND ASSEMBLYWOMEN BELOW:
* Voss, Joan M. as Primary Sponsor of A2773 -
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=244
* Diegnan, Patrick J., Jr. as Co-Sponsor of A2773 -
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=203
* Giblin, Thomas P. as Co-Sponsor of A2773
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=257

As you know, keeping dogs chained—or as it's sometimes called,
"tethering" — is cruel, because it deprives these highly social pack
animals of proper socialization and often leaves them unable to reach
whatever shelter, food, and water they've been provided.

The dogs grow aggressively protective of their tiny space and often
attack children who come near them. Legislation that would help
make the state a safer place for dogs and the public — Senate Bill
No. 1705 and its companion bill, Assembly Bill No. 2773 — has
been introduced in the New Jersey Legislature. Today, please urge
your legislators to do the right thing and support this legislation.

If it becomes law, S1705 and the identically worded A2773 would
prohibit chaining or otherwise restraining animals such that they're
deprived of the ability to properly eat, drink, access shelter, remain
in good health, or avoid serious injury. Those convicted of violations
would be guilty of a disorderly persons offense and facefines of up
to $1,000.

Today, please politely urge your state senator and assembly member to
support S1705 and A2773, respectively. You can find your legislators'
names and contact information here.
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/S2000/1705_I1.HTM
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/A3000/2773_I1.HTM

SYNOPSIS
Establishes animal cruelty offenses pertaining to chaining or other
restraint of animals. Please contact Senator Asselta, Assemblyman
Van Drew and Assemblyman Albano today in support of A-2773
and S1705. Or, contact your Senator and Assemblymen.

Please ask them to support and upgrade the bills to eliminate
chaining altogether as have California and Maryland Senates
this month.

PLEASE follow your email with written correspondence which always
has a greater impact than email.

Click on:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/abcroster.asp
Click on Asselta
Click on Contact Your Legislator
Click on Select Your Representatives
Complete form
Repeat for Van Drew and Albano
Senator Nicholas Asselta, Republican
District Office: Main Tree Commons, 1450 East Chestnut Avenue,
Building 1, Suite B, Vineland, NJ 08361 (856)-691-3004
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/asselta.asp

Assemblyman Nelson T. Albano, Democrat
District Office: 21 North Main Street, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
(609)-465-0700
District Office: 223 East Main Street, Millville, NJ 08332 (856)-293-8353
District Office: 1028 East Landis Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360 (856)-696-7109
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/albano.asp

Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew, Democrat
District Office: 21 North Main Street, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
(609)-465-0700
District Office: 223 East Main Street, Millville, NJ 08332 (856)-293-8353
District Office: 1028 East Landis Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360 (856)-696-7109
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/vandrew.asp