NJ S2864

Each New Jersey municipality must establish a municipal animal control program overseen by a municipal health officer who reports quarterly to the governing body and the State Office of Veterinary Public Health in the Department of Health.

Municipalities must appoint or contract with certified animal control officers who respond immediately to reports of stray, sick, injured, or dangerous animals, with vehicle or foot patrols required at least twice per week.

The bill requires municipalities to implement a homeless cat program through ordinance or resolution, which may include impoundment, foster care, cat colony management with mandatory spay/neuter and vaccination, or other humane methods.

Contracts with private animal control services must be reviewed by the municipal health officer and submitted to the State Office of Veterinary Public Health for approval, with the state authorized to intervene if compliance requirements are not met.

$500,000 is appropriated from the General Fund for grants to municipalities to cover compliance costs, with the Department of Health required to request additional grant funding in future annual budgets.