The following information was derived from an article that appeared in today’s Bergen Record.

Did you know that New Jersey has the second strongest animal protection laws in the country? There are wide ranging regulations that protect animals from harm in homes, on farms, at racetracks and also in the wild. This information was reported by the Humane Society on Monday, Feb. 8, 2010. In an analysis of laws in all 50 states, the animal welfare advocates ranked California number 1 for the legal protection of animals. New Jersey ranked second and Colorado and Massachusetts tied for third. Idaho and South Dakota earned the lowest scores because of their failure to make animal cruelty a felony or to outlaw cockfighting.  California is one of the few states that outlaws the use of animals in product testing when an alternative exists. It also gives students the right to choose an alternative to animal dissection such a use of simulated dissection on the computer instead.

New Jersey was cited for strong laws on animal fighting, fur labeling and alternatives to animal testing. Our pets should be kept safe and should also be given effective pet medication and treatment when needed.