RED BANK – Borough Council members are calling on Gov. Phil Murphy and members of the state Legislature to investigate and amend the law that outlines the sale of dogs and cats that come from commercial breeders.
During a meeting of Red Bank’s governing body on July 18, Councilwoman Kathleen Horgan introduced a resolution, which calls on Murphy to review and revise the New Jersey Pet Purchase Protection Act (NJPPPA).
She said the criteria that is outlined in the law regarding the sale of dogs and cats from commercial breeders needs to be reworked.
Horgan, who is the council’s liaison to the Red Bank Animal Welfare Committee, said she has become well versed on the matter of puppy mills after speaking with animal activists, pet shop owners and members of animal welfare committees.
“Puppy mill” is a term used by some people to describe a commercial breeding operation.
“None of us up here (on the dais) are for puppy mills. … I have concluded there is a rampant abuse of the federal puppy mill regulations,” Horgan said.
Horgan said the NJPPPA “does not end the bad practices of puppy mills.” She said the law “fails to ensure that all dogs and cats sold in the state are from reputable facilities.”
The councilwoman said members of the council do not have the information or the “framework” that is necessary to make decisions on matters involving the sale of dogs and cats from commercial breeders. She said the situation occurs throughout New Jersey and the United States and cannot be adequately addressed by a local governing body.
“Tax dollars should not be used to fight this issue on the municipal level,” Horgan said. “This issue is best left to federal and state officials and authorities to resolve.”
Horgan introduced a resolution that requests action to be taken at the state level. Laws pertaining to the sale of dogs and cats that come from commercial breeders need to be investigated, she said.
“We need to request that the governor and the Legislature take action to either fix the NJPPPA or enact a statewide ban on the sale of puppy mill animals.”
The resolution states
Council President Edward Zipprich, Councilman Mark Taylor, Councilman Michael Ballard, Councilman Michael Whelan and Horgan voted to pass the resolution and to send it to state leaders in Trenton. Councilman Erik Yngstrom was absent from the July 18 meeting.
During that same meeting, council members voted to withdraw a proposed ordinance that had been under consideration. The ordinance, if adopted, would have permitted pet shops in Red Bank to only sell dogs and cats that were acquired from animal shelters and animal rescue organizations.
There is one pet shop in the borough and that business sells dogs that are acquired from breeders. The owner of the business said he would initiate legal action against Red Bank if the council adopted the ordinance. The action taken by the council effectively killed the proposed law.