Column: Don't Mess With NJ's Pets

Stray animals taken to shelters in New Jersey are going to remain safe from euthanasia for at least a week.

Recently, the animal rights community was howling over a provision in a tangentially relatedbill that could have allowed dogs and cats to be put to death sooner.

The bill’s main purpose is to establish a pilot program requiring all animals adopted from shelters to be spayed or neutered.

But included in the bill was a provision that would have allowed shelters to euthanize certain animals immediately after they're brought in, based on their age, health or behavior. Currently, shelters must wait seven days before putting an animal to death except in extreme circumstances—when either a veterinarian certifies that the dog or cat is suffering terribly or if the animal is so vicious he or she poses a threat to shelter workers.

Animal lovers across the state cried foul: in print through letters to the editor, online in comments, in blogs and on Facebook, and via phone lines to the governor’s office. They complained that the change at worst could lead to the immediate death of beloved old Fido if he got free of his collar and wandered off before his masters could start searching for him. In any case, they said, an animal should not be killed without at least a week’s chance to be found by his rightful owners.

Some pooh-poohed these complaints as a non-issue, but even one of the sponsors, Sen. Jeff Van Drew of Cape May, ultimately agreed. Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday conditionally vetoed the bill, saying the provision would have unintended circumstances that could lead to needless deaths. The Senate quickly concurred.

So this story has a happy ending. The powers that be in Trenton did the right thing. But would they have had it not been for the power of the animal activists?

Many cite, and decry, the loud voice and considerable influence of groups like the state’s teachers union—though its clout has diminished during the Christie administration. But the influence of less-visible groups like those that make up the animal rights community should not be underestimated.

Rather than one massive, well-financed bloc, animal lovers are spread throughout a number of organizations that are typically nowhere near as rich or loud. But try to do something to hurt animals and they can organize in an instant.

It’s not too hard to understand. Just consider the cute factor.

Who doesn’t “awww” at the site of a litter of calico kittens or the sad eyes of a Bassett hound?

Serious journalists have always found it frustrating that while a story they write exposing some aspect of corruption may get a few comments from the public, the one about the raccoon who had to be rescued after his tongue froze to a metal pole draws dozens of calls and letters, if not more.

While reasonable people can argue whether the cat or the dog is the better pet, just about everybody loves animals.

Whether he guards your house, accompanies you on walks, sits in your lap and keep you company or just perches on a cabinet aloofly looking down on you as if you are inferior, your pet is always more than that. He’s family. When Shadow the black lab dies, it throws his whole family—and the neighbors—into mourning.

Everyone feels protective of animals, not just because of the cuteness and loyalty. There’s also the obligation many feel to look out for animals, who can’t speak for themselves.

It’s nice that so many get so involved in a political issue for a good cause. But it would be nice if more people put as much time into issues like unemployment, welfare, health care and education that affect people.

Do you think a seven-day waiting period before a sheltered animal can be euthanized is appropriate? Tell us in the comments.

Colleen O'Dea is a writer, editor, researcher, data analyst, web page designer and mapper with almost three decades in the news business.