Andrzejczak and Land Bill Permitting Municipalities to Contract with Societies that Engage in Animal Foster Care Clears Assembly Panel

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Bob Andrzejczak and Bruce Land allowing municipalities which have not established a public pound for the keeping of stray pets to contract with an animal foster care service for collecting, keeping for redemption and controlling stray animals cleared an Assembly panel on Thursday.

“We should not limit who may care for these animals,” said Andrzejczak (D-Cape May/Atlantic/Cumberland), who chairs the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, which advanced the bill. “It is imperative that, in order for these animals to get the proper care and control, we allow expert organizations to have autonomy to contract with municipalities.”

Currently, municipalities may only contract with a pound maintained by a humane society or other similar associations that is not organized for monetary profit. This bill (A-3218) would amend that, permitting municipalities to contract with either a pound or a pet foster care organization, or both simultaneously.

“While many pounds successfully care for and control stray animals, we must allow other kinds of animal care to be allowed contract with the city independently,” said Land (D-Cape May/Atlantic/Cumberland). “This greater freedom will allow for better treatment and control of stray pets.”