Bill
Bill > AJR130
NJ AJR130
NJ AJR130Designates May of each year as "Pet Appreciation Month" and third full week of May of each year as "Pet Adoption Week" in New Jersey.
summary
Introduced
02/12/2024
02/12/2024
In Committee
02/12/2024
02/12/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This joint resolution designates May of each year as "Pet Appreciation Month" and the third full week of May of each year as "Pet Adoption Week" in New Jersey. Pets have been a part of American life for hundreds of years, and thousands of New Jersey households currently own and care for a variety of pets. Owning pets is shown to have numerous physical and mental health benefits, and observation of a "Pet Appreciation Month" would create an additional reason to celebrate the bonds between a pet owner and their pet. While many loving households welcome new pets to their homes each year, and, while support for animal shelters and rescues continues to increase in the State, more adopters are needed to alleviate the burden on these shelter and rescue organizations. Well-behaved and friendly animals are, too often, forced to rely upon animal shelters and rescues for reasons that are not attributable to the animal, but are due to issues under human control such as the residential movement of families, the need for families to comply with rental housing rules, or the need for families to accommodate busy work schedules or new babies. According to the Department of Health's voluntary 2019 Animal Intake and Disposition Survey, approximately 81,199 animals were admitted to animal shelters across the State in 2019 and approximately 11 percent of those animals were euthanized. Moreover, according to the Best Friends Animal Society, a national organization and leader in the no-kill animal shelter initiative, only about 57 percent of New Jersey animal shelters are no-kill shelters. Observation of "Pet Adoption Week" would raise awareness of the benefits of, and need for increased pet adoptions and pet fostering, and encourage the continued public support of, and donation of items and funds to, local animal shelters and rescues in the State.
AI Summary
This joint resolution designates May as "Pet Appreciation Month" and the third full week of May as "Pet Adoption Week" in New Jersey, aimed at celebrating the important role of pets in households and raising awareness about animal shelter needs. The resolution highlights the numerous physical and mental health benefits of pet ownership, such as increased exercise, reduced blood pressure, and decreased feelings of loneliness, while also drawing attention to the challenges faced by animal shelters. According to the New Jersey Department of Health's 2019 survey, approximately 81,199 animals were admitted to shelters that year, with about 11 percent euthanized, and only 57 percent of the state's shelters are considered no-kill facilities. The resolution calls on the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe these designations through appropriate programs and activities, with the ultimate goal of promoting pet adoption, supporting local animal shelters and rescues, and recognizing the significant contributions of pets to family life and individual well-being.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee (on 02/12/2024)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location | Created |
|---|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/AJR130 | 02/08/2024 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/AJR/130_I1.HTM | 02/13/2024 |
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