New Jersey Senate No. 2868 proposes to allow for the appointment of an advocate to represent the interests of the animal in any criminal case regarding the welfare of an animal.
New Jersey Considers Appointing Animal Advocates in Criminal Cases
New Jersey Considers Legislation Approving Court-Appointed Animal Advocates
New Jersey Assembly Bill 4533 would allow courts to appoint a separate advocate to represent the interests of the animal at issue in a criminal case involving a nonhuman animal.
New Jersey Considers Legislation Allowing Citizens to Rescue Animals from Hot Cars
New Jersey Assembly Bill 4540 proposes to allow individuals acting in good faith to rescue an animal from a motor vehicle when they reasonably believe the animal’s life to be in danger due to heat, cold, inadequate ventilation, or other such circumstances.
Iowa Establishes Crime of “Food Operation Trespass”
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has signed into law an act that criminalizes entering or remaining without consent of a person with authority to allow a person to enter or remain on the property of a location where animal products are sold, or where a “food animal” is produced, kept, or slaughtered. The first offense is an aggravated misdemeanor and subsequent offenses are a class D felony.
Michigan Considers Legislation to Amend Cruelty Law
Michigan House Bill 5809 proposes several changes to the state’s animal cruelty law, including requiring offenders to pay the costs associated with the care and treatment of seized animals.
PETA Files Suit Against Tri-State Zoological Park
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has filed suit against Tri-State Zoological Park, alleging that the roadside zoo’s neglect of animals violates federal and state law and constitutes a public nuisance.
New Jersey Considers Requiring Continuing Education for Animal Control Officers
New Jersey Assembly No. 4083 proposes to require continuing education courses for animal control officers and animal cruelty investigators.
Joe Exotic Suffers Losses in Civil Suit
A federal judge has recommended that Tiger King’s Joe Exotic’s civil suit against the federal government alleging false arrest be dismissed as frivolous.
New Jersey Legislation Would Require Mental Health Evaluations for Animal Cruelty Offenders
New Jersey Senate Bill 2179, if enacted, would require anyone who commits an animal cruelty offense to be evaluated by a mental health professional and to undergo mental health counseling if warranted by that evaluation.
New York Considers Legislation to Require Animal Abuse Investigation to Trigger Other Investigations
New York Assembly Bill 9948, if enacted, would make it so that the office of children and family services would be required to investigate any individual investigated or accused of animal abuse.