Designates October 3 of each year as "Companion Animal Cruelty Awareness Day" in New Jersey.

AJR165

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 165

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� GREGORY P. MCGUCKIN

District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)

Assemblyman� CODY D. MILLER

District 4 (Atlantic, Camden and Gloucester)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Scharfenberger

SYNOPSIS

���� Designates October 3 of each year as �Companion
Animal Cruelty Awareness Day� in New Jersey.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution
designating October 3 of each
year as �Companion Animal Cruelty Awareness Day� in New Jersey.

Whereas,

In 2020 the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Incident-Based
Reporting System (NIBRS) reported 11,566 incidents of animal cruelty; and

Whereas,

The FBI defines animal cruelty as �intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly
taking an action that mistreats or kills any animal without just cause, such as
torturing, tormenting, mutilation, maiming, poisoning, or abandonment�; and�

Whereas,

Examples of animal cruelty include neglect of duty to provide care, such as
failure to provide shelter, food, water, or care if the animal is sick or
injured, transporting or confining an animal in a manner likely to cause injury
or death, causing an animal to fight with another, or inflicting excessive or
repeated unnecessary pain or suffering; and

Whereas,

NIBRS began collecting data on animal cruelty from participating law
enforcement agencies on January 1, 2016; and

Whereas,

Prior to 2016, crimes involving animals were lumped into an �All Other
Offenses� category; and

Whereas,

Based on a preliminary analysis of NIBRS data, there were 4.43 animal cruelty
incidents nationally per 100,000 of the population in 2018; and

Whereas,

National data concerning the prevalence of animal cruelty is deficient because
the data depends on local law enforcement agencies to report the animal abuse;
and

Whereas,

In 2024, New Jersey joined the list of law enforcement agencies participating
in NIBRS; and

Whereas,

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals defines companion
animals as animals that �should be domesticated or domestic-bred animals whose
physical, emotional, behavioral and social needs can be readily met as
companions in the home, or in close daily relationship with humans�; and

Whereas,

Companion animal cruelty is not merely an animal welfare issue, but a broader
public safety concern, as research shows links between animal abuse and
interpersonal violence; and

Whereas,

Recognizing October 3 of each year as �Companion Animal Cruelty Awareness Day�
in New Jersey offers an opportunity for communities to take action to protect
companion animals by raising awareness of companion animal cruelty, educate the
public on the reasons animal cruelty occurs, encourage early reporting of
companion animal cruelty, and reaffirm our State�s commitment to humane
treatment of animals and prevention of animal cruelty; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� October 3 of each year
shall be designated as �Companion Animal Cruelty Day� in New Jersey.

���� 2.��� The Governor is respectfully
requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing October 3 of each year
as �Companion Animal Cruelty Day� in New Jersey and call upon relevant organizations,
citizens of the State, and State agencies to participate in appropriate
awareness activities and initiatives.

���� 3.��� This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This joint resolution
designates October 3 of each year as �Companion Animal Cruelty Awareness Day�
in New Jersey to raise public awareness and to promote education, early
reporting of companion animal cruelty, community engagement around companion
animal cruelty, and reaffirm our State�s commitment to humane treatment of
animals and prevention of animal cruelty. �This joint resolution also requests
that the Governor issue an annual proclamation to recognize Companion Animal
Cruelty Awareness Day and call upon relevant State agencies, organizations, and
citizens of the State to observe the day with appropriate activities and
programs.

���� In 2020 the Federal Bureau of
Investigation National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) reported 11,566
incidents of animal cruelty.� Data is collected by participating law
enforcement agencies.� New Jersey became part of the participating law
enforcement agencies in 2024.� There is a need for awareness as the national
data on animal cruelty is lacking as the data is dependent on law enforcement
agencies properly reporting animal cruelty incidents. �Furthermore, companion
animal cruelty is not only an animal welfare issue but a broader public safety
concern, as research shows links between animal abuse and interpersonal
violence.�