New Jersey Lawmakers Crack Down on Puppy Mills

The idea is to eliminate the sale of dogs and cats in New Jersey from so-called "Puppy Mills."  A group of Ocean County lawmakers has introduced legislation that would establish a state registry of breeders and pet dealers who will have to provide information on the health and breeding history of a cat or dog being sold in the Garden State. 

The "Healthy Puppies and Kittens Assurance Act" would create an animal birth certificate, or health certificate, which would remain with the animal throughout its life and be updated annually.  The certificate would have to be signed by a veterinarian in the state where the animal was born.

The proposal, introduced by Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Dave Wolfe and Greg McGuckin, comes following the closure of a pet store in Brick which was shut down by authorities after 26 of the 39 dogs that were being held there were found to be sick.