"Chiara's Law"; prohibits euthanizing animals in shelters or pounds except for health or safety reasons.

Chiara's Law prohibits New Jersey animal shelters and pounds from euthanizing animals except for specific health or safety reasons. It requires that euthanasia must be approved by a veterinarian for the animal's health or deemed necessary for safety by the shelter operator, and must be performed humanely. Shelters must hold animals for at least seven days before adoption or euthanasia, unless the animal is suspected of rabies (requiring immediate health protocols) or surrendered voluntarily by an owner. The law also mandates that shelters cannot sell animals for experimentation and maintains existing rabies-related procedures under Department of Health oversight.