Mayor Fulop joins JCPD and Municipal Prosecutor to Target and Enforce Animal Cruelty Criminality

Jersey City Launches Anonymous Resident Tipline to Report Animal Abuse in Conjunction with Specialized Police Officer Training

JERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop announced today the launch of the Jersey City animal cruelty tip line for the public to anonymously report animal abuse, neglect, and abandonment concerns to the Jersey City Police Department in partnership with the Municipal Prosecutor’s Office. Taking the City’s efforts to enforce animal abuse laws a step further, 38 police officers have been certified as Municipal Humane Law Enforcement Officers (MHLEO), with 20 additional JCPD supervisors starting the specialized training next month.

“Any violence on animals is deplorable, and it is important to do all we can to help these defenseless animals and stop such abuse. This tip line will provide a safe, anonymous service for people to use under circumstances where they may not otherwise feel comfortable alerting the cops out of fear the aggressor could turn on them,” said Mayor Fulop.

As of 2019, NJ law requires only one MHLEO police officer per municipality. However, the JCPD and Prosecutor’s Office worked to enhance the training and enforcement of all animal welfare and animal cruelty laws, utilizing a Dog Trust USA grant provided by Jersey City’s Health and Human Services Department (HHS).

JCPD Deputy Chief Nick Flora explored the idea of establishing a tip line to report animal-related crimes after 20-plus years of service. Research has proven there are direct correlations between animal abuse and domestic violence. “Under this administration, the Jersey City Police Department has worked to be more strategic in our efforts to combat all crime, from the worst violent offenders to those who commit acts of violence on helpless animals. By training our officers and providing a tip line for reporting suspected crimes, we can better enforce the law and simultaneously help keep the animals safe.”

“Unfortunately, animals suffering from abuse are voiceless. That’s why we are asking everyone to lend their voice by speaking up and reporting suspected animal abuse,” said Jake Hudnut, Jersey City’s Municipal Prosecutor. “Our trained law enforcement officials can then investigate, determine the facts, and decide if further action needs to be taken to prevent serious injury or death.”

Animal cruelty crimes can be reported by calling the tip line at 201-547-4999 or emailing animalabusetipline@jcnj.org.

“There is a close connection between protecting public health in our community and the health of our animals,” added Stacey Flanagan, Director of the Department of Health and Human Services Department. “Animals that are abandoned or not properly cared for can lead to serious medical issues such as bacterial diseases, infections, poor air and environmental conditions, and the like. This not only poses a danger to the animal, but it also puts its surroundings at risk.”

Jersey City’s Municipal Humane Law Enforcement Officers certification training covers a wide range of content regarding animal-involved criminality, ranging from animal hoarding and dog fighting to identifying and investigating suspected abuse and rendering first aid to pets.