Tag: NJSPCA

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The History and Downfall of the Disgraced NJSPCA

This interesting and detailed piece provides much of the history of the disgraceful New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NJSPCA), a “gun club” of “wanna-be cops” who did little to help suffering, homeless and abused animals but clearly enjoyed pretending they were police.

This band of clowns was finally dissolved as a “law enforcement” organization by a NJ law, sponsored by former NJ State Senator Ray Lesniak, passed without opposition and signed by Governor Christie on his last full day in office.

HERE’s the piece itself.

And HERE’s the report from the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation titled “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing. “

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Dog Dies Tragically on United – but MANY more are Killed Daily

By now you all surely know about the sweet French Bulldog Kokito who died tragically and unnecessarily aboard a United Airlines flight when he was stuffed into the overhead compartment on the orders of a flight attendant. 

More pet mishaps happened on United in short order, though at least the CEO didn’t try to pretend that it wasn’t the airline’s fault. But United has a sordid history of neglect of animals aboard its flights that has often resulted in their deaths.

While we mourn the loss of this little angel, hundreds of healthy, adoptable animals in New Jersey are being unnecessarily killed — “euthanized” is the euphemism we love to use.  We need to mourn their loss, too, and put a stop to this.  First we need to get the attention of New Jersey’s new Governor and Attorney General.

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What Happens Next with the NJSPCA? Let’s Ask Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal!

We all know that the homeless and abused animals of New Jersey will be better off once the “wanna-be” cops of the NJSPCA go away on June 30, 2018.  Yet another voice has weighed in here to describe why NJ citizens and animals are far better off without this band of, as described by the NJ State Commission of Investigation, “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing.”

Now the important question for our new, NJ Attorney General, Gurbir S. Grewal, is, what happens next?

  • What happens to all the donor money in their coffers?
  • What happens to the trucks, cars, radios, guns, badges, HQ Building, office equipment, and other tangible property?
  • How will the organization be unwound by the 30th of June?
  • What is Attorney General Grewal doing to put a new animal law enforcement regime into place?
  • What is Attorney General Grewal doing to ensure that the current and recent past “Board” members of the NJSPCA are not allowed to game the system and worm their way back into animal welfare enforcement, something that they demionstrated conclusively they’re not capable–nor worthy–of?

We call upon the Attorney General to step upand take an active leadership role in winding down this now-defunct organization–which continues, by the way, to pursue frivolous lawsuits with donor money while the animals suffer.

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New Jersey Court Socks it to now-defunct NJSPCA for OPRA Violations

The NJSPCA, now on its way out the door — thankfully — as a so-called “law enforcement” agency, is now being forrced by a NJ Court to pay up for its long-term attempt to evade its OPRA requirements.  It’s amazing but not surprising that the organization wasted tens of thousands of donor money in such a cynical quest, when it was already apparent it had already lost.  More good reason why this group of “wanna-be cops” is on its way into the dustbin.

Media coverage can be found here!

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Governor Christie Signs Bill Dissolving NJSPCA! Happy Day!

Thanks to investigative coverage by Walt Kane of News 12 New Jersey, NJ Spotlight and the efforts of (now-retired) Senator Ray Lesniak, New Jersey’s homeless and abused animals are much better off now that outgoing Governor Christie signed the bill dissolving the NJSPCA as a law enforcement agency.

This band of wanna-be cops leaves a sad legacy of suffering animals, lost opportunity, and the enormous waste of millions of donor dollars. The organization’s leadership, described by the NJ SCI as “Wolves in Sheeps’ Clothing” showed their true colors at the last minute with a cynical attempt to deceive the New Jersey Assembly; luckily, it didn’t work. Now the important work of caring for animals can go where it belongs, to capable and legitimate law enforcement officers.

I am working with HSUS New Jersey to develop an educational program on animal law enforcement, for County Prosecutors and HLEOs in North Jersey, South Jersey and Central Jersey.  WE WILL MAKE THIS WORK!

See News12’s coverage here.

 

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What’s Next When the NJSPCA is Dissolved?

The NJSPCA has done little or nothing for suffering animals in NJ. They have, however, bought and equipped cars and trucks, radios, and a HQ building; spent absurd sums on outside counsel, pursued frivolous lawsuits, bought hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition, vests, uniforms, and carried shiny badges.  They’ve illegally pulled over NJ drivers without authority.  Their absurd and abusive behavior went on and on.  But – that is set to change once Governor Christie signs the bill dissolving these “wanna-be” cops as a law enforcement agency.

But what’s next, once the responsibility for animal cruelty law enforcement is turned over to ACTUAL professionals, not amateur clowns?

News12 NJ’s Walt Kane looks at the future HERE.

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Corrupt and Incompetent NJSPCA Swept into Dustbin of History!

Today the only thing more exciting than the Crimson Tide’s amazing overtime win was the vote of the NJ Assembly, 63-0, to dissolve the NJSPCA as a law enforcement organization!  Thanks to the efforts of the “Reformers” Group, Senator Ray Lesniak and Walt Kane of News 12 New Jersey, this group of wanna-be cops will finally be put out to pasture, and the enforcement of animal cruelty laws in NJ will go where it belongs, to real law enforcement officers and NJ County Prosecutors.  It speaks volumes that at the last moment, the NJSPCA undertook an email campaign asking its members to deceive the NJ Assembly.  It failed.  They failed.  Good riddance.

They are, as @RealDonaldTrump would say, SAD!

See News 12’s coverage here! 

See NJ.Com’s coverage here.

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News12NJ and NJ Spotlight Expose Attempt by NJSPCA to Deceive NJ Assembly

In an exclusive tonight, News 12 NJ’s Walt Kane exposes an attempt by NJSPCA official Phil Amato to deceive the NJ Assembly via a dishonest and possibly illegal email campaign, in opposition to a pending bill.  The bill, which follows on the heels of a scathing report on the NJSPCA by the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation, would remove the failed agency’s law enforcment authority and place it in the hands of competent, trained police officers and NJ County Prosecutors.  Where it belongs .

Walt exposes the NJSPCA’s email scheme HERE.

Caren Chesler of NJ Spotlight followed up with THIS piece.

It is shameful.  And the NJSPCA is shameless.

 

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Lesniak Legislation to Dissolve NJSPCA Moves Forward – But the Fight is not Won (yet)

NJ State Senator Ray Lesniak, in the wake of the NJ SCI investigation of the NJSPCA that found incompetence, mismanagement, waste, fraud and abuse, has proposed legislation that if enacted will put animal cruelty law enforcement back where it belongs: in the hands of actual, not “wanna-be” police officers, and country prosecutors.

Bill S3558 would call for the creation of a county prosecutor animal cruelty task force in each county, and for a municipal humane law enforcement officer to be appointed in each municipality.

It’s about time.

For TapInfo.net’s coverage of the issue and upcoming vote, go HERE.

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Some Justice for Abused Animals at AHS-Newark? Finally, Perhaps (UPDATED)

After two inspections this fall by the City of Newark and NJ’s Department of Health uncovered horrible and disgusting conditions and a slew of violations at the Associate Humane Societies-Newark (AHS-Newark) , the Executive Director of the facility was charged with several civil and criminal violations of New Jersey’s animal cruelty statutes.

Now, before the the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NJSPCA) cynically struts and preens and tries to claim credit, this followed years of violations and years of failed inspections,  during which  NJSPCA – the state’s law enforcement agency for animal cruelty – took no action against AHS.

In fact, NJSPCA President Steve Shatkin asserted that his organization has no role with respect to shelters, during a public meeting of the NJSPCA Board:  “The NJSPCA is not the animal shelter police.”  SEE HIM SAYING THIS HERE at around the 4:22 mark. 

WPIX-TV 11 in New York was already covering this “House of Horrors” when the charges were finally issued, and their coverage is here. 

See other coverage HERE and HERE.

UPDATE – on December 11, 2017, WPIX-TV 11 did another story on the AHS-Newark “House of Horrors” and exposed the fact that the NJSPCA only charged the Executive Director with a handful of violations, when there were HUNDREDS.  See for yourself HERE.