The State of New Jersey has not revised or updated it's animal cruelty statutes since 1886. In the 127 years since animal cruelty legislation has been taken into consideration, not only public opinion regarding the rights and welfare of animals changed drastically, many scientific studies have suggested that animals are capable not only of feeling pain, but also experience a range of emotions very similar to those of humans.
The State of New Jersey Department of Animal Control recommends reporting incidents of animal abuse and neglect to the NJSPCA, whose officers are passionate activists of animal rights, and work entirely on a volunteer basis. Despite their dedication, without photographic or video proof of an incident of animal abuse, they are powerless to help abused or neglected animals at all; this is the case even if you have repeatedly heard an animal being abused, seen the aftermath of the abuse, or heard of abuse from a first hand witness.
A drastic revision to Animal Cruelty Statutes is overdue by over a century. I implore you to support my petition for a revision of this legislation to ensure that animals are allowed the safety, dignity and respect that they deserve.
"We have enslaved the rest of animal creation and have treated our distant cousins in fur and feathers so badly that beyond doubt, if they were able to formulate religion, they would depict the Devil in human form." --William Ralph Inge
