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ALL animals in New Jersey—domestic, wild, “farmed,” or otherwise—are protected under the law. To familiarize yourself with the Animal Cruelty statutes in New Jersey, please click here.

Violence against animals is everyone's business. Just like young children, animals can’t get themselves out of an abusive situation to seek help. YOU need to be their voice. YOU need to speak for them.

Reporting Animal Cruelty

If you see or hear of violence against animals, neglect or abuse, your first step is to call the local police and ask to speak with the Humane Law Enforcement Officer (HLEO). In New Jersey every police department (or in some cases the State Police, if there is no local police) has a Humane Law Enforcement Officer(s) who investigates animal cruelty. This is STATE LAW as of 2017/2018.

APLNJ has heard from a number of residents who, upon calling the police, were told by a police dispatcher that they don’t have a HLEO, or don’t handle animal cruelty. THEY MOST CERTAINLY DO. We have found that many dispatchers have no idea the police cover animal issues and don’t bother looking into it. They tell you to call animal control. That is NOT who you should be calling.

If they insist they do not have one, which, as stated above they are required to by state law, then ask to be put through to the office of the Chief of Police. That office will know that each department must have a Humane Law Enforcement Officer and you should get satisfaction and finally get someone to go out and investigate.

Taking it Further

If you don't get anywhere with the Chief of Police (which would be disgraceful!), then you need to contact the appropriate County Prosecutor's Office (numbers listed below).

That is the chain of command:

• municipal police
• chief of police
• county prosecutor's office

When you call, let them know that you did not get satisfaction from the municipal police/chief of police on an animal cruelty matter.

FYI - Most county prosecutor’s offices have designated Chief Humane Law Enforcement Officers (CHLEO). An Assistant County Prosecutor (ACP) and the CHLEO control investigations and take appropriate actions regarding violations of animal cruelty laws within the county. The ACP and CHLEO should work closely with municipal Humane Law Enforcement Officers (HLEO). 

Chief Law Enforcement Officer

Finally, if you have no success on any of those levels, they all need to be reported to the Office of the Attorney General, who is the chief law enforcement officer in New Jersey.

His office must be told of this non-compliance with state law by the municipal police department, the chief of police and the County Prosecutors Office. If you have to go that far, you will need to start by speaking with someone at the Office of Constituent Services for the Attorney General's Office. That number is 609-984-5828.

Thank you for speaking up for these animals. Many people just turn a blind eye.