What are pet limit laws and how do they affect your organization? Plus What is Furrever Friends Rescue doing and how you can help.
Written by George DeGiovanni, Best Friends Network.
Information supplied by Furrever Friends Rescue and Oren Leib and used with permission.The trial date has been adjourned: Just received word that trial will be adjourned because defense counsel is leaving his firm. A new dates hasn't yet been posted, but I will certainly keep you posted. Thanks, OrenPet Limit Laws – which vary from town to town – are usually established as an easy, inexpensive way to accomplish animal control. However, evidence shows that Pet Limits Laws do
NOT work for this purpose.
Instead, the limits contribute to animal control issues by ignoring the core issue of animal overpopulation, as well as preventing responsible guardians from adopting another pet, and discouraging volunteers from fostering for rescue groups.
Education, low-cost spay/neuter programs, and enforced nuisance laws are proven approaches to impede hoarders, abusers and inconsiderate neighbors, but many municipalities hide behind pet limit laws as a method of animal control.
Due to the financial constraints of this trial and the fact that they need to keep other foster spaces available in case Ms. Smith has to have her rescued cats removed, the Furrever Friends rescue and Volunteers, Inc. has closed their rescue to any further intake. The current mission of the rescue is to obtain as much funding and support through out New Jersey and continue to place the rescues that are in their care right now into loving and supportive homes.
Jen Wesh, the President of Furrever Friends, stated “though it hurts us to be directing our donated funds into the legal system instead of the animals themselves, it is necessary to protect every pet guardian and every animal rescue in NJ. All over the NJ, municipalities have FORCED responsible, kind people and rescue volunteers to give up their well-behaved pets simply because they were over a pre-determined, nonsensical number. Government should not have the right to determine how many pets a person may care for in their own home!”
Recently FFRV was featured on the Fox 5 news and Channel 3 News for the rescue of mother cat and her 3 kittens. They were found hogtied in a knotted trash bag that was tossed into a dumpster in Brooklawn, NJ. FFRV worked with the NJSPCA to investigate this crime.
FFRV encourages the public to adopt a rescued pet! The animals needing homes, including those with special needs, can be viewed at
ffrv.petfinder.org.
What you can do:
Monetary Donations may be made by sending a Check to:
FFRV
PO BOX 141
Woodbury, NJ 08096
Or going online to
ffrv.petfinder.org.
CONTACT: Furrever Friends Rescue & Volunteers, Inc. (FFRV)
Jen A, Volunteer, siameez@peoplepc.com, 856 845-8554
Oren Leib, Esq., Attorney, oren.leib@turnkeylegal.com, 856-520-2112
You can also sign the petition below:
http://www.petitiononline.com/fosters1/petition.html****************************************************************************
Oren Leib, Esquire represents Furrever Friends & Rescue Volunteers in a groundbreaking case in New Jersey set for March 11, 2008 to determine the constitutionality of pet limit ordinances. The case impacts volunteer rescue and foster groups across the state - and potentially nationwide - who face steep fines for being over the limit and whose “excess” animals likely face euthanization.
Oren will argue that pet limits are unconstitutional because they aren’t rationally related to a legitimate government interest. The caps aren’t based on any scientific or factual evidence linked to public health or safety concerns; there is no exceptions made for volunteer rescue/foster groups; and since the Constitution treats animals as property limits are deemed unconstitutional.
Oren is taking this case on a pro bono basis. Oren also has a general practice and is managing partner at his firm, TurnKeyLegal Solutions LLC. For sound legal advice and a free consultation, please visit his website at www.turnkeylegal.com or contact him directly at (856) 520-2112. Thank you for your support!Photo Credit: Becky Tegze-DeGiovanni