We are NOT asking you for $.
We are asking you to please CALL Senate President Sweeney 856-251-9801 immediately and ask him to
move Bill S-1864 from the Environment & Energy Committee to the Law & Public Safety Committee.
We are asking you to please CALL Senate President Sweeney 856-251-9801 immediately and ask him to
move Bill S-1864 from the Environment & Energy Committee to the Law & Public Safety Committee.
Are You Having A Hard Time Finding A Wildlife Rehabilitator?
We are sorry about that! The State Division of Fish & Wildlife has caused a severe decline in the local volunteer wildlife rehabilitators that were once available to you and the wildlife. There used to be approximately 150 rehabilitators statewide. Now there are only about a dozen truly functional rehabilitators left to help. Nine counties have no rehabilitators at all. This is unfair to you and the precious wildlife that needs a second chance.
You can help increase the number of rehabilitators by making just one phone call! Please call Senator Stephen Sweeney at 856-251-9801. Ask to speak directly to Michele Coryell, Chief of Staff. Please ask Ms. Coryell to urge Senator Sweeney to move Senate Bill S1864 (The Wildlife Rehabilitation Act) from the Environment and Energy Committee to the Law and Public Safety Committee.
Bill S1864 removes the volunteer wildlife rehabilitators out from under the Division of Fish & Wildlife and places them under the supervision of New Jersey veterinarians. The Division of Fish and Wildlife's expertise is to provide recreational hunting, trapping and fishing opportunities for sportsmen. They are not clinicians and they do not save animals' lives as do veterinarians.
Wildlife encounters are on the rise. Local, well-trained wildlife rehabilitators should be available to you with just one phone call. Please support this legislation.
Talking Points: Benefits of Bill S-1864, The Wildlife Rehabilitation Act:
1. Public Safety: Veterinary clinicians who would serve on the Wildlife Rehabilitation Board (WRB) have expertise in managing diseases in both wildlife and domestic animal populations so public safety and health would be enhanced. Statewide clinical protocols for veterinary wildlife triage would be put in place. Clinicians and wildlife rehabilitators serving on the WRB could offer expertise in medicine and research that is not presently available.
2. Veterinary Clinical Care: The N.J. Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife are not clinicians. Their area of expertise is providing recreational hunting, trapping and fishing opportunities for sportsman, not saving animals’ lives.
3. Increase the number of licensed wildlife rehabilitators: People will be more acquiescent to become rehabilitators if they know they will work under the supervision of a supportive animal healthcare professional. The current management by the Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife (FGW), has diminished the number of rehabilitators from 130 (in 2000) to 22. Nine New Jersey counties have no wildlife rehabilitators at all.
4. Good Samaritan Clause: More people will “do the right thing” i.e. get the animal to a vet/licensed wildlife rehabber and not take matters into their own hands, if they know they will not be punished. This is also a public safety benefit.
5. Supportive resources for Animal Control Officers (ACOs), animal shelters and pest control companies. These people are often called upon to assist with orphaned, injured and “nuisance” wildlife. Bill S-1864 could provide additional wildlife rehabilitative services to help them. Pest Control companies have responded that their business increases when clients know that the company works directly with licensed wildlife rehabilitators and that the animals will not be killed.
6. Ongoing education and outreach: The Wildlife Rehabilitation Board can implement ongoing continuing education credits for licensed rehabbers to help them stay abreast of innovations in the field of wildlife rehabilitation. The Board can create and provide programs for other professionals (Animal Control and SPCA Officers) and pest control companies on how best to help orphaned, injured and “nuisance” wildlife. Educational outreach in schools (which has been banned by the Division of FGW) could be safely reinstated.
7. Build Goodwill and Community Cooperation: People innately want to help injured, orphaned and even “nuisance” wildlife. No one wants to be “the bad guy” and kill the animals. The WRB, made up of clinical and caring professionals, will provide a framework for more licensed rehabilitators to assist New Jersey residents with wildlife in distress. Everyone can be a Hero because more resources could be available to everyone involved.
8. No Cost: Wildlife Rehabilitation Board would provide services at no cost to taxpayers.
Published article about Bill S1864:
"Where have All the Wildlife Rehabilitators Gone?" on page 2.
Click Here to view Bill S1864
We are sorry about that! The State Division of Fish & Wildlife has caused a severe decline in the local volunteer wildlife rehabilitators that were once available to you and the wildlife. There used to be approximately 150 rehabilitators statewide. Now there are only about a dozen truly functional rehabilitators left to help. Nine counties have no rehabilitators at all. This is unfair to you and the precious wildlife that needs a second chance.
You can help increase the number of rehabilitators by making just one phone call! Please call Senator Stephen Sweeney at 856-251-9801. Ask to speak directly to Michele Coryell, Chief of Staff. Please ask Ms. Coryell to urge Senator Sweeney to move Senate Bill S1864 (The Wildlife Rehabilitation Act) from the Environment and Energy Committee to the Law and Public Safety Committee.
Bill S1864 removes the volunteer wildlife rehabilitators out from under the Division of Fish & Wildlife and places them under the supervision of New Jersey veterinarians. The Division of Fish and Wildlife's expertise is to provide recreational hunting, trapping and fishing opportunities for sportsmen. They are not clinicians and they do not save animals' lives as do veterinarians.
Wildlife encounters are on the rise. Local, well-trained wildlife rehabilitators should be available to you with just one phone call. Please support this legislation.
Talking Points: Benefits of Bill S-1864, The Wildlife Rehabilitation Act:
1. Public Safety: Veterinary clinicians who would serve on the Wildlife Rehabilitation Board (WRB) have expertise in managing diseases in both wildlife and domestic animal populations so public safety and health would be enhanced. Statewide clinical protocols for veterinary wildlife triage would be put in place. Clinicians and wildlife rehabilitators serving on the WRB could offer expertise in medicine and research that is not presently available.
2. Veterinary Clinical Care: The N.J. Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife are not clinicians. Their area of expertise is providing recreational hunting, trapping and fishing opportunities for sportsman, not saving animals’ lives.
3. Increase the number of licensed wildlife rehabilitators: People will be more acquiescent to become rehabilitators if they know they will work under the supervision of a supportive animal healthcare professional. The current management by the Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife (FGW), has diminished the number of rehabilitators from 130 (in 2000) to 22. Nine New Jersey counties have no wildlife rehabilitators at all.
4. Good Samaritan Clause: More people will “do the right thing” i.e. get the animal to a vet/licensed wildlife rehabber and not take matters into their own hands, if they know they will not be punished. This is also a public safety benefit.
5. Supportive resources for Animal Control Officers (ACOs), animal shelters and pest control companies. These people are often called upon to assist with orphaned, injured and “nuisance” wildlife. Bill S-1864 could provide additional wildlife rehabilitative services to help them. Pest Control companies have responded that their business increases when clients know that the company works directly with licensed wildlife rehabilitators and that the animals will not be killed.
6. Ongoing education and outreach: The Wildlife Rehabilitation Board can implement ongoing continuing education credits for licensed rehabbers to help them stay abreast of innovations in the field of wildlife rehabilitation. The Board can create and provide programs for other professionals (Animal Control and SPCA Officers) and pest control companies on how best to help orphaned, injured and “nuisance” wildlife. Educational outreach in schools (which has been banned by the Division of FGW) could be safely reinstated.
7. Build Goodwill and Community Cooperation: People innately want to help injured, orphaned and even “nuisance” wildlife. No one wants to be “the bad guy” and kill the animals. The WRB, made up of clinical and caring professionals, will provide a framework for more licensed rehabilitators to assist New Jersey residents with wildlife in distress. Everyone can be a Hero because more resources could be available to everyone involved.
8. No Cost: Wildlife Rehabilitation Board would provide services at no cost to taxpayers.
Published article about Bill S1864:
"Where have All the Wildlife Rehabilitators Gone?" on page 2.
Click Here to view Bill S1864