Assemblywoman Stanfield and Assemblyman Peters decry Democrats attack on dog owners

LUMBERTON – New Jersey Democrats are pushing through legislation that could cost dog owners $500 a day if they don’t have a fence on their property.

Bill A2401 is being voted on by the State Assembly on Thursday and would require every municipality in the state to enact a fencing law that tells owners of large dogs to either erect a fence or face a $500-a-day fine. The new law could also bring down child endangerment charges to a dog owner who lets their dog off the leash in the presence of children.

“What we have here is extreme government overreach,” said Assemblywoman Jean Stanfield. “New Jersey Democrats are hurting so many animals and people with this law.”

“Dog owners who can’t afford a fence will have to give up their companions, animal shelters will have a harder time finding a home for large dogs and local law enforcement is going to be forced to enforce outrageous new penalties,”  said Stanfield, who is the former Burlington County Sheriff.

The dog bill passed the Assembly Agriculture Committee with all Democrats voting yes and all Republicans voting no.

“Dog owners have spoken out against this bill. The great people who work at animal shelters have spoken out against this bill. So who is for it? It’s just another money grab by the state. People should be disgusted by this brazen attempt at stealing their hard-earned money,” said Assemblyman Ryan Peters.

“Dogs and their owners will be ripped apart by this. The Democratic lawmakers behind this bill really did a bang-up job,” he continued.