Bill Text: NJ AJR63 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates first Saturday in October of each year as "Animal Rescue Day."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-13 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee [AJR63 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-AJR63-Introduced.html
ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION
No. 63
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED MARCH 13, 2014
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman BOB ANDRZEJCZAK
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Designates first Saturday in October of each year as "Animal Rescue Day."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating the first Saturday in October of each year as "Animal Rescue Day" in New Jersey.
Whereas, The Humane Society of the United States estimates that nationwide approximately six to eight million cats and dogs enter shelters each year and about half of them are adopted while the other half are euthanized; and
Whereas, Many New Jersey residents help to rescue, adopt, and provide foster care and medical services for animals, volunteer at shelters, and donate their time, energy, and financial resources; and
Whereas, New Jersey's rescue efforts assist and save many different species of animals and marine life, including cats, dogs, birds, ferrets, horses, rabbits, reptiles, dolphins, seals, sea turtles, and whales; and
Whereas, New Jersey's animal rescue organizations offer many avenues for pet adoption from animal shelters or breed rescue groups, and offer other resources, education, and assistance to pet adopters; and
Whereas, Animal shelters exist in every county in New Jersey and many counties are home to a number of animal shelters, adoption organizations, and rescue efforts; and
Whereas, The Marine Mammal Stranding Center, in Brigantine, is the State's only facility for stranded marine life and has responded to over 3,000 stranded dolphins, seals, sea turtles, and whales, and assists in rehabilitating and releasing the animals back into the ocean; and
Whereas, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the American Humane Association, and a number of pet-care stores across the nation recognize October as National Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month in order to promote animal adoption and minimize the number of animals that are euthanized each year; and
Whereas, Pets and animals are an important part of people's lives and studies have demonstrated a correlation between pet ownership and health benefits for humans; and
Whereas, The animal rescue organizations in New Jersey have made significant contributions to the State and many animals have been saved and benefited from the care and assistance of animal rescue efforts, volunteers, and foster and adoptive homes; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The first Saturday in October of each year shall be designated as "Animal Rescue Day" in the State of New Jersey to raise awareness and educate the public, increase pet adoption, and improve visibility and increase support for animal rescues throughout the State.
2. The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation establishing the first Saturday in October as "Animal Rescue Day" and, with the Legislature, call upon the Office of Animal Welfare in the New Jersey Department of Health, the State's animal rescue shelters and organizations, and the people of this State, to observe and promote the day with appropriate activities and programs.
3. A duly authenticated copy of this joint resolution shall be transmitted to Pawtographs, the charitable animal rescue foundation of Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
4. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution would designate the first Saturday in October of each year as "Animal Rescue Day" in the State of New Jersey to raise awareness and educate the public, increase pet adoption, and improve visibility and increase support for animal rescues throughout the State.
Many New Jersey residents help to rescue, adopt, and provide foster care and medical services for animals, volunteer at shelters, and donate their time, energy, and financial resources. New Jersey's rescue efforts assist and save many different species of animals and marine life, including cats, dogs, birds, ferrets, horses, rabbits, reptiles, dolphins, seals, sea turtles, and whales.
New Jersey's animal rescue organizations offer many avenues for pet adoption, from animal shelters or breed rescue groups, and offer other resources, education, and assistance to pet adopters. Animal shelters exist in every county in New Jersey and many counties are home to a number of animal shelters, adoption organizations, and rescue efforts. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center, in Brigantine, is the State's only facility for stranded marine life and has responded to over 3,000 stranded dolphins, seals, sea turtles, and whales, and assists in rehabilitating and releasing the animals back into the ocean.
The Humane Society of the United States estimates that nationwide approximately six to eight million cats and dogs enter shelters each year and about half of them are adopted while half of them are euthanized. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the American Humane Association, and a number of pet-care stores across the nation recognize October as National Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month in order to promote animal adoption and minimize the number of animals that are euthanized each year. By annually celebrating "Animal Rescue Day" in New Jersey, more people will be
educated about animal rescue efforts and the magnified attention to animal relinquishment or homeless animals will assist in generating more support for rescue shelters and groups and simultaneously encourage responsible pet adoption.
