SPCA Concerned About Euthanasia Provision In NJ Spay And Neuter Bill

TRENTON, NJ (CBS) - A proposal to promote sterilization of stray and adopted animals in New Jersey has one provision in it animal welfare activists don't like and they hope to get things changed in short order.

Senate Bill 2923 does a lot of good on the spay and neutering front, as the New Jersey SPCA sees it.

Spokesman Matthew Stanton does have one concern, though, "One provision was put in there that we have a serious problem with and that is allowing the euthanasia of an animal before the required seven-day waiting time."

The bill grants greater leeway for shelters in deciding whether and when to put an animal down. Stanton says any early call on that front should be made by a veterinarian, not a shelter staffer. He is confident the measure will be changed before Thursday, the deadline for Governor Chris Christie to act on it. Christie is expected to issue a conditional veto, allowing sponsors to remove the euthanasia provision.

Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio 1060