Legislative Historical Efforts and the Push for Reform for Rescue Organizations

Recognizing the need for regulation, Assemblyman Adam Taliaferro introduced Assembly Bill A2992 in 2020, which sought to establish certain requirements for animal rescue organizations, breeders, and the importation of animals. This bill attempted to address several key issues:

1. Mandatory Registration and Licensing: A primary provision of A2992 was the requirement for rescue organizations to register with the NJDOH, ensuring they were held to the same standards as municipal shelters and pounds.
2. Increased Accountability: The bill proposed that rescue organizations maintain detailed records of the animals in their care, including health and adoption history, providing transparency and reducing the risk of animal mistreatment.
3. Regulation of Animal Importation: A2992 aimed to create stricter guidelines on the importation of animals into New Jersey, particularly dogs and cats, ensuring animals brought into the state for adoption were properly vetted and healthy.
4. Regulation of Breeders: The bill proposed stronger regulations for breeders to align their practices with humane standards and discourage the proliferation of unethical breeding operations. (Backyard puppy-mill breeders)
5. Revisions to Shelter and Pound Laws: A2992 also sought to update existing laws governing shelters and pounds, ensuring their operations adhered to modern, progressive animal welfare standards.

This legislation followed earlier attempts in 2018 (A3257) and 2017 (A4722), which similarly aimed to establish regulatory frameworks for rescue organizations. Unfortunately, all these bills did not go anywhere and A4722 stalled in the Agriculture Committee and never progressed to law. Additionally, none of these bills had a companion bill in the New Jersey Senate, further limiting their chances of success.

The introduction of this bill ceased when the Assemblyman either lost his election or did not run again.