The Problem

Why is the topic of regulating animal rescue organizations important?

According to the 2017-18 American Veterinary Medical Association, 25.4 percent of American households owned a cat and 38.4 percent owned a dog. They estimated the total amount of companion pets to be 80,151,490, with 48,255,413 being dogs and 31,896,077 being cats. (American Veterinary Medical Association, 2017, table 1) According to the United States Census data for the years 2017 through 2021, there were 3,397,156 households in New Jersey.  (US Census Bureau, 2022, Line 1 of Family and Living Arrangements section). Using a formula provided by the American Veterinary Medical Association (American Veterinary Medical Association, 2017, para. 7), it can be estimated that in 2021 New Jersey household companion pets included approximately 2,085,854 dogs and 1,552,500 cats. There was a minimum of approximately 26,400 dogs and cats adopted from impound shelters in the State of New Jersey in the year 2021. (New Jersey Department of Health Infectious and Zoonotic Disease Program, 2022, p. 7) This study does not contain statistics from all shelters, and contains no statistics on rescues from animal rescue organizations. The size of the numbers above along with their context would seem to indicate that a good portion of the dogs and cats in New Jersey may have been adopted through an animal rescue.       

     News coverage has brought to light instances of animal rescues hoarding dogs and cats. Other report of animal rescues using ethically questionable practices have surfaced. Complaints from people that have adopted animals from rescues have been made stating they were not provided with full disclosure on the animals they adopted.

There is no oversight of animal rescues in the state of New Jersey. Allowing animal rescue organizations in New Jersey to remain unregulated is not fair to consumers or animals. A lack of regulation creates an environment where it is easy for unethical practices and unsafe behaviors to occur with ease.