‘Birds of a feather’ flock to Trenton
I’d rather describe last week’s 6th annual “Humane
Lobby Day” in Trenton as “Useful Info Day” – it was that jam-packed with issues
and discussions about animals. It also featured numbers of people I was happy to
see, meet and hear from. And yes, there
was some lobbying too, although the networkingthat occurred may prove more effective in the long run.
of the info I was impressed, and occasionally depressed, by.
To start with, heartening numbers
of bills concerning animals are working their way through the legislative
process, and one awaits the governor’s signature – we hope not in vain. Already
passed by the state senate and assembly, it’s “the puppy mill sales” bill, A2338/S3041,
which would prohibit the worst puppy
mills from doing business in NJ, thereby
protecting consumers and animals. Phone Gov. Christie at 609-292-6000, to ask him to sign the bill.
(For this and any other bills mentioned
here, you can go to http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ to check status, read and/or print out.)
Among other animal-related bills in process are Nosey’s
Law (A4386/S2058), which bans elephants in traveling shows; and a bill
prohibiting sale or possession of shark fins (A3945/S2044).
The day’s events included awards to two
legislators, starting with Troy Singleton (7th district), the assemblyman behind the bill that would
ban declawing of cats except for medical reasons. Singleton spoke feelingly about
animals, cats in particular. His bill awaits action in the Senate.
Tim Eustace (38th
district), the animal- and environment-friendly assemblyman who has introduced
and supported bear protection bills, was also honored by Brian Hackett, NJ State
Director for the Humane Society of the US, which sponsored the event.
“Bear hunts have
nothing to do with public safety,” said Angi Metler, APLNJ’s executive director,
during her presentation. “They’re all about the Christie administration’s ‘bait
and shoot’ recreational trophy hunt.” She
described NJ’s Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) as “the hunter-based state
agency that’s allowing use of illegal traps” and distinguished between the two
websites for bears: (1) BearSmartNJ.org is for information and solutions, not
action, while (2) SaveNJbears.com is the site for activists who may do phoning,
tabling and demonstrating.
Over 4,000 NJ black bears – including moms, cubs and
Pedals, the iconic upright bear – have been killed during Gov. Christie’s time
in office. Pedals’ death during last
October’s hunt prompted Sen. Ray Lesniak to introduce Pedals’ Law (S2702 /A4285),
calling for a five-year moratorium on bear hunts, among other advocate-approved
provisions.
2000 three NJ governors (Whitman [3], McGreevey [1], Corzine [4]) have stopped
eight bear hunts.)
Unfortunately, Pedals’ Law and
another of Lesniak’s initiatives — to protect the 1984 duly-enacted law
against leghold traps (S2750/A4407) – have so far been stalled in the
legislative process. Those who want the bill to move forward can contact Senate
President Stephen Sweeney (856-251-9801), asking him to post the bill.
An open panel discussion among
representatives of the “partner organizations” who spoke earlier closed out the event. One of the last audience questions dealt with
Senator Linda Greenstein’s recently introduced S3019, a bill that would reform
animal shelters in NJ. (More on this
bill to follow . . .!)
Return to our website for details
on what we’re all about “for the animals”
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