Animal Cruelty Laws

BID #: N/A

DUE: TBD

VALUE: TBD

100

Rating

Risk Rank

Green Risk

AI-Powered Lead Insights

Executive Summary

This document outlines New Jersey state laws pertaining to animal cruelty. It details various acts considered unlawful, including overdriving, overloading, abusing, or needlessly killing an animal, as well as failing to provide necessary care. The document also defines offenses such as tormenting, torturing, or mutilating an animal, and specifies penalties for violations, including fines, imprisonment, community service, and restitution. Amendments to these laws have been made over the years, with the most recent update in 2017.

Web Content

Automated discovery link found on Robbinsville website.

Document Text

--- Document: Animal Cruelty Laws Document ---
STATE LAW 
(P.L.2017, Chapter 189b) 
 
 
4:22-17 Cruelty; certain acts, crime; degrees. 
a. It shall be unlawful to: 
(1) Overdrive, overload, drive when overloaded, overwork, abuse, or needlessly kill a 
living animal or creature; 
(2) Cause or procure, by any direct or indirect means, including but not limited to through 
the use of another living animal or creature, any of the acts described in paragraph (1) of this 
subsection to be done; 
(3) Inflict unnecessary cruelty upon a living animal or creature, by any direct or indirect 
means, including but not limited to through the use of another living animal or creature; or leave 
the living animal or creature unattended in a vehicle under inhumane conditions adverse to the 
health or welfare of the living animal or creature; or 
(4) 
Fail, as the owner or as a person otherwise charged with the care of a living animal or 
creature, to provide the living animal or creature with necessary care. 
 
b. (1) A person who violates subsection a. of this section shall be guilty of a disorderly persons 
offense.  Notwithstanding the provisions of N.J.S.2C:43-3 to the contrary, for every conviction of 
an offense pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection a. of this section, the person shall be 
fined not less than $250 nor more than $1,000, or be imprisoned for a term of not more than six 
months, or both, in the discretion of the court; and for every conviction of an offense pursuant to 
paragraph (3) or (4) of subsection a. of this section, the person shall be fined not less than $500 
nor more than $2,000, or be imprisoned for a term of not more than six months, or both, in 
the discretion of the court. 
(2) If the person who violates subsection a. of this section has a prior conviction for an 
offense that would constitute a violation of subsection a. of this section, the person shall be 
guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. 
(3) A person who violates subsection a. of this section shall also be subject to the 
provisions of subsections e. and f. and, if appropriate, subsection g., of this section. 
(4)  The action for the penalty prescribed in this subsection shall be brought in the municipal 
court of the municipality wherein the defendant resides or where the offense was committed, 
except that the municipality may elect to refer the offense to the county prosecutor to determine 
if the offense should be handled in the Superior Court or in municipal court. 
 
c. It shall be unlawful to purposely, knowingly, or recklessly: 
(1) Torment, torture, maim, hang, poison, unnecessarily or cruelly beat, cruelly abuse, or 
needlessly mutilate a living animal or creature; 
(2) Cause bodily injury to a living animal or creature by failing to provide the living 
animal or creature with necessary care, whether as the owner or as a person otherwise 
charged with the care of the living animal or creature; 
(3)   Cause or procure an act described in paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection to be done, by 
any direct or indirect means, including but not limited to through the use of another living animal 
or creature; or 
(4) Use, or cause or procure the use of, an animal or creature in any kind of sexual manner or 
initiate any kind of sexual contact with the animal or creature, including, but not limited to, 
sodomizing the animal or creature.  As used in this paragraph, "sexual contact" means any 
contact between a person and an animal by penetration of the penis or a foreign object into the 
vagina or anus, contact between the mouth and genitalia, or by contact between the genitalia of 
one and the genitalia or anus of the other.  This term does not include any medical procedure 


performed by a licensed veterinarian practicing veterinary medicine or an accepted animal 
husbandry practice. 
 
d. (1) A person who violates paragraph (1), (2), (3) or (4) of subsection c. of this section shall 
be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree, except that the person shall be guilty of a crime of the 
third degree if: 
(a) the animal or creature dies as a result of the violation; 
(b) the animal or creature suffers serious bodily injury as a result of the violation; 
or 
(c) the person has a prior conviction for an offense that would constitute a violation of 
paragraph (1), (2), (3) or (4) of subsection c. of this section. 
(2)  A person who violates any provision of subsection c. of this section shall also be subject 
to the provisions of subsections e. and f. and, if appropriate, subsection g., of this section. 
(3) The action for the penalty prescribed in this subsection shall be brought in the 
Superior Court. 
 
e. For a violation of this section, in addition to imposing any other appropriate penalties 
established for a crime of the third degree, crime of the fourth degree, or disorderly persons 
offense, as the case may be, pursuant to Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, the court shall 
impose a term of community service of up to 30 days, and may direct that the term of community 
service be served in providing assistance to a county society for the prevention of cruelty to 
animals or any other recognized organization concerned with the prevention of cruelty to animals 
or the humane treatment and care of animals, or to a municipality's animal control or animal 
population control program. 
 
f. The court also shall require any violator of this section to pay restitution, including but not 
limited to, the monetary cost of replacing the animal if the animal died or had to be euthanized 
because of the extent of the animal's injuries, or otherwise reimburse any costs for food, drink, 
shelter, or veterinary care or treatment, or other costs, incurred by the owner of the animal, if the 
owner is not the person committing the act of cruelty, or incurred by any agency, entity, or 
organization investigating the violation, or providing shelter or care for the animal or animals, 
including but not limited to a county society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, any other 
recognized organization concerned with the prevention of cruelty to animals or the humane 
treatment and care of animals, a local or State governmental entity, or a kennel, shelter, pound, 
or other facility providing for the shelter and care of the animal or animals involved in the 
violation. 
 
g. If a juvenile is adjudicated delinquent for an act which, if committed by an adult, would 
constitute a disorderly persons offense, crime of the fourth degree, or crime of the third degree 
pursuant to this section, the court also shall order the juvenile to receive mental health counseling 
by a licensed psychologist or therapist named by the court for a period of time to be prescribed by 
the licensed psychologist or therapist. 
 
amended 1995, c.355, s.2; 1996, c.64, s.1; 2000, c.162, s.1; 2001, c.229, s.1; 2003, c.232, s.1; 
2005, c.105, s.1; 2013, c.88, s.2; 2015, c.133; 2017, c.331, s.10. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Penalties for various acts constituting cruelty. 
4:22-26 A person who shall: 
 
a. (1) Overdrive, overload, drive when overloaded, overwork, abuse, or needlessly kill a living 
animal or creature, or cause or procure, by any direct or indirect means, including but not limited 
to through the use of another living animal or creature, any such acts to be done; 
(2) Torment, torture, maim, hang, poison, unnecessarily or cruelly beat, cruelly abuse, or 
needlessly mutilate a living animal or creature, or cause or procure, by any direct or indirect 
means, including but not limited to through the use of another living animal or creature, any such 
acts to be done; 
 
(3) Cause the death of, or serious bodily injury to, a living animal or creature from 
commission of any act described in paragraph (2), (4), or (5) of this subsection, by any direct or 
indirect means, including but not limited to through the use of another living animal or creature, 
or otherwise cause or procure any such acts to be done; 
(4) Fail, as the owner or a person otherwise charged with the care of a living animal or 
creature, to provide the living animal or creature with necessary care, or otherwise cause or 
procure such an act to be done; or  
(5) Cause bodily injury to a living animal or creature from commission of the act described 
in paragraph (4) of this subsection; 
 
b. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2003, c.232) 
 
c. Inflict unnecessary cruelty upon a living animal or creature, by any direct or indirect 
means, including but not limited to through the use of another living animal or creature; or leave 
the living animal or creature unattended in a vehicle under inhumane conditions adverse to the 
health or welfare of the living animal or creature; 
 
d. Receive or offer for sale a horse that is suffering from abuse or neglect, or which by reason 
of disability, disease, abuse or lameness, or any other cause, could not be worked, ridden or 
otherwise used for show, exhibition or recreational purposes, or kept as a domestic pet without 
violating the provisions of article 2 of chapter 22 of Title 4 of the Revised Statutes; 
 
e. Keep, use, be connected with or interested in the management of, or receive money or other 
consideration for the admission of a person to, a place kept or used for the purpose of fighting or 
baiting a living animal or creature; 
 
f. Be present and witness, pay admission to, encourage, aid or assist in an activity 
enumerated in subsection e. of this section; 
 
g. Permit or suffer a place owned or controlled by him to be used as provided in subsection 
e. of this section; 
 
h. Carry, or cause to be carried, a living animal or creature in or upon a vehicle or otherwise, 
in a cruel or inhumane manner; 
 
i. Use a dog or dogs for the purpose of drawing or helping to draw a vehicle for business 
purposes; 
 
j. Impound or confine or cause to be impounded or confined in a pound or other place a 
living animal or creature, and shall fail to supply the living animal or creature during such 
confinement with a sufficient quantity of good and wholesome food and water; 
 


k. Abandon a maimed, sick, infirm or disabled animal or creature to die in a public place; 
 
l. Willfully sell, or offer to sell, use, expose, or cause or permit to be sold or offered for sale, 
used or exposed, a horse or other animal having the disease known as glanders or farcy, or other 
contagious or infectious disease dangerous to the health or life of human beings or animals, or 
who shall, when any such disease is beyond recovery, refuse, upon demand, to deprive the 
animal of life; 
 
m. Own, operate, manage or conduct a roadside stand or market for the sale of merchandise 
along a public street or highway; or a shopping mall, or a part of the premises thereof; and keep a 
living animal or creature confined, or allowed to roam in an area whether or not the area is 
enclosed, on these premises as an exhibit; except that this subsection shall not be applicable to:  a 
pet shop licensed pursuant to P.L.1941, c.151 (C.4:19-15.1 et seq.); a person who keeps an 
animal, in a humane manner, for the purpose of the protection of the premises; or a recognized 
breeders' association, a 4-H club, an educational agricultural program, an equestrian team, a 
humane society or other similar charitable or nonprofit organization conducting an exhibition, 
show or performance; 
 
n. Keep or exhibit a wild animal at a roadside stand or market located along a public street or 
highway of this State; a gasoline station; or a shopping mall, or a part of the premises thereof; 
 
o. Sell, offer for sale, barter or give away or display live baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl 
or rabbits, turtles or chameleons which have been dyed or artificially colored or otherwise treated 
so as to impart to them an artificial color; 
 
p. Use any animal, reptile, or fowl for the purpose of soliciting any alms, collections, 
contributions, subscriptions, donations, or payment of money except in connection with 
exhibitions, shows or performances conducted in a bona fide manner by recognized breeders' 
associations, 4-H clubs or other similar bona fide organizations; 
 
q. Sell or offer for sale, barter, or give away living rabbits, turtles, baby chicks, ducklings 
or other fowl under two months of age, for use as household or domestic pets; 
 
r. Sell, offer for sale, barter or give away living baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl, or 
rabbits, turtles or chameleons under two months of age for any purpose not prohibited by 
subsection q. of this section and who shall fail to provide proper facilities for the care of such 
animals; 
 
s. Artificially mark sheep or cattle, or cause them to be marked, by cropping or cutting off 
both ears, cropping or cutting either ear more than one inch from the tip end thereof, or half 
cropping or cutting both ears or either ear more than one inch from the tip end thereof, or who 
shall have or keep in the person's possession sheep or cattle, which the person claims to own, 
marked contrary to this subsection unless they were bought in market or of a stranger; 
 
t. Abandon a domesticated animal; 
 
u. For amusement or gain, cause, allow, or permit the fighting or baiting of a living animal or 
creature; 
 
v. Own, possess, keep, train, promote, purchase, or knowingly sell a living animal or creature 
for the purpose of fighting or baiting that animal or creature; 
 
w. Gamble on the outcome of a fight involving a living animal or creature; 


 
x. Knowingly sell or barter or offer for sale or barter, at wholesale or retail, the fur or hair of 
a domestic dog or cat or any product made in whole or in part from the fur or hair of a domestic 
dog or cat, unless such fur or hair for sale or barter is from a commercial grooming establishment 
or a veterinary office or clinic or is for use for scientific research; 
 
y. (1) Knowingly sell or barter, or offer for sale or barter, at wholesale or retail, for human 
consumption, the flesh of a domestic dog or cat, or any product made in whole or in part from the 
flesh of a domestic dog or cat; 
 
 
(2) Knowingly slaughter a horse for human consumption; 
 
(3) Knowingly sell or barter, or offer for sale or barter, at wholesale or retail, for human 
consumption, the flesh of a horse, or any product made in whole or in part from the flesh of a 
horse, or knowingly accept or publish newspaper advertising that includes the offering for sale, 
trade, or distribution of any such item for human consumption; 
 
(4) Knowingly transport a horse for the purpose of slaughter for human 
consumption; 
 
(5) Knowingly transport horsemeat, or any product made in whole or in part from the flesh 
of a horse, for the purpose of human consumption; 
 
z. Surgically debark or silence a dog in violation of section 1 or 2 of P.L.2002, c.102 
(C.4:19-38 or C.4:19-39); 
 
aa. Use a live pigeon, fowl or other bird for the purpose of a target, or to be shot at either for 
amusement or as a test of skill in marksmanship, except that this subsection and subsections bb. 
and cc. shall not apply to the shooting of game; 
 
bb. Shoot at a bird used as described in subsection aa. of this section, or is a party to such 
shooting; or 
 
cc. Lease a building, room, field or premises, or knowingly permit the use thereof for the 
purposes of subsection aa. or bb. of this section -- 
 
Shall forfeit and pay a sum according to the following schedule, to be sued for and recovered, 
with costs, in a civil action by any person in the name of the municipality or county wherein the 
defendant resides or where the offense was committed: 
 
For a violation of subsection e., f., g., u., v., w., or z. of this section or of paragraph (3) of 
subsection a. of this section, or for a second or subsequent violation of paragraph (2) or (5) of 
subsection a. of this section, a sum of not less than $3,000 nor more than $5,000; 
 
For a violation of subsection l. of this section, for a first violation of paragraph (2) or (5) of 
subsection a. of this section, a sum of not less than $1,000 nor more than $3,000; 
 
For a violation of paragraph (4) of subsection a. of this section, or subsection c. of this 
section, a sum of not less than $500 nor more than $2,000; 
 
 
 


For a violation of subsection x. or paragraph (1) of subsection y. of this section, a sum of not 
less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for each domestic dog or cat fur or fur or hair product or 
domestic dog or cat carcass or meat product sold, bartered, or offered for sale or barter; 
 
For a violation of paragraph (2), (3), (4), or (5) of subsection y. of this section, a sum of not 
less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for each horse slaughtered or transported for the purpose of 
slaughter for human consumption, or for each horse carcass or meat product transported, sold or 
bartered, or offered or advertised for sale or barter; 
 
For a violation of subsection t. of this section, a sum of not less than $500 nor more than 
$1,000, but if the violation occurs on or near a highway, a mandatory sum of $1,000; 
 
For a violation of subsection d., h., j., k., aa., bb., or cc. of this section or of paragraph (1) 
of subsection a. of this section, a sum of not less than $250 nor more than $1,000; and 
 
For a violation of subsection i., m., n., o., p., q., r., or s. of this section, a sum of not less than 
$250 nor more than $500. 
 
amended 1949, c.294; 1951, c.270; 1953, c.5, s.63; 1954, c.175; 1974, c.18; 1977, c.229, s.2; 
1983, c.103; 1989, c.35, s.2; 1991, c.108, s.2; 1998, c.105, s.3; 1999, c.307, s.3; 2000, c.162, s.2; 
2001, c.229, s.4; 2002, c.102, s.8; 2003, c.232, s.3; 2005, c.105, s.2; 2005, c.372, s.16; 2012, c.52, 
s.2; 2013, c.88, s.3; 2017, c.331, s.13.