TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey Assemblyman Sterley S. Stanley has introduced legislation aimed at prohibiting the cosmetic cropping of dogs’ ears and tail docking within the state. The bill, targeting these specific types of alterations, deems them as acts of animal cruelty, with violators facing severe penalties.
The legislation stipulates that anyone found cropping a dog’s ears or altering its tail for non-medical reasons could be charged with a disorderly persons offense. Convicted individuals may face up to six months in jail, fines of up to $1,000, or both. Moreover, offenders could also be slapped with a civil penalty ranging from $1,000 to $3,000.
An exemption exists within the bill for medical procedures performed by licensed veterinarians.
Such procedures must be documented through a written statement submitted to the Department of Health, detailing the medical rationale behind the cropping or tail alteration. Veterinarians failing to comply with this documentation requirement are at risk of disciplinary actions by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.