A 178 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

"New Jersey Safe Haven for Protection of Domestic Companion Animals Act."

This bill creates anonymous safe havens for abandoned pets by allowing anyone to leave domestic companion animals (like dogs or cats) at shelters, veterinary hospitals, or police stations without disclosing their identity or providing animal history. Facilities must accept the animals and provide necessary care, but are not required to reunite them with owners or attempt to identify previous caregivers. It also mandates public education through school materials for grades 3-12 and a 24-hour hotline to inform people about the safe haven process. The law directly affects pet owners unable to care for their animals and facilities that receive abandoned pets, aiming to prevent unnecessary suffering.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jan 13, 2026
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Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee
lower
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

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