Bergen
County S.P.C.A.
New
Jersey State Animal Cruelty Statutes (Title IV)
4:22-17. Cruelty; disorderly
persons offense
a. A person who shall:
(1) Overdrive, overload, drive when
overloaded, overwork, deprive of necessary sustenance,
abuse, or needlessly kill a living animal or creature;
(2) Cause or procure, by any direct or
indirect means, including but not limited to through the
use of another living animal or creature, any such acts
to be done; or
(3) Inflict unnecessary cruelty upon a
living animal or creature, by any direct or indirect
means, including but not limited to through the use of
another living animal or creature; or unnecessarily fail
to provide a living animal or creature of which the
person has charge either as an owner or otherwise with
proper food, drink, shelter or protection from the
weather; or leave it unattended in a vehicle under
inhuman conditions adverse to the health or welfare of
the living animal or creature--
Shall be guilty of a disorderly
persons offense, and notwithstanding the provisions of
N.J.S.2C:43-3 to the contrary, for every such offense
shall be fined not less than $250 nor more than $1,000,
or be imprisoned for a term of not more than six months,
or both in the discretion of the court.
b. A person who shall purposely,
knowingly, or recklessly:
(1) Torment, torture, maim, hang,
poison, unnecessarily or cruelly beat, or needlessly
mutilate a living animal or creature; or
(2) Cause or procure, by any direct or
indirect means, including but not limited to through the
use of another living animal or creature, any such acts
to be done--
Shall be guilty of a crime of the
fourth degree.
4:22-18 Carrying an Animal in a Cruel Manner
To carry or cause to be carried, a living creature in or
upon a vehicle or otherwise, in a cruel or inhumane
manner.
4:22-20a Abandoning Disabled Animal to Die in a Public
Place
4:22-20b Abandoning a Domestic Animal (Max $1000 Fine)
4:22-24 Fighting or Baiting Animals
(Third Degree Crime)
a) Keep or manage or collect money to stage fights
b) Be present, witness, pay admission to or encourage.
c) Permit or suffer a place to be used for fighting
d) For amusement, gain or cause, to allow or permit
fighting or baiting an animal or living creature.
e) Own, possess, keep, train, promote, purchase, or sell
a living creature for the purpose of fighting.
f) Gamble on the outcome of a fight.
These are a few of the most commonly used animal cruelty
laws. However, The Bergen County S.P.C.A. enforces all
state cruelty laws, as well as town ordinances dealing
with animal cruelty.
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