Vainieri Huttle and Benson Bill Requiring Colleges and Universities to Offer Certain Animals No Longer Being Used for Research to Animal Rescue Organizations Clears Assembly Panel

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly Members Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Daniel Benson requiring institutions of higher education and related research facilities to offer cats and dogs no longer being used for educational, research or scientific purposes to animal rescue organizations for adoption prior to euthanizing the animals cleared the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday.

“While humans can gain incredibly valuable information by studying cats and dogs and their behavior, it is not right to simply put them down when they are of no longer of scientific or educational use if they are not suffering,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). “There may be a loving home out there for these animals, and it is our responsibility to help them find that new forever.”

Under the bill (A-3274), an institution or facility that provides a cat or dog to an animal rescue organization would also be immune from any civil liability resulting from the transfer of the animal, provided the institution or facility acted in good faith concerning the health and physical condition of the cat or dog.

“This is a way for us to allow these animals, who can create lasting and meaningful connections with humans, to live out the rest of their lives as pets in a loving home,” said Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “This is something we can and should do.”