Ask Legislators to Fund Low-Cost Spay/Neuter For NJ

May 7, 2025

New Jersey is facing a crisis

And it’s happening in our shelters, our neighborhoods, and on our streets. Local animal shelters are overwhelmed, community cats are multiplying faster than they can be helped, and low-income pet owners are struggling to access affordable spay/neuter services. But we have a chance to change that — if we act now.

Senate Bill S261 / Assembly Bill A3635 — also known as The Compassion for Community Cats Law — is a long-overdue piece of legislation that could provide real, sustainable solutions. But after years of being stalled in committee, this bill needs a major push to reach the full NJ Legislature for a vote. If it doesn’t move soon, we risk losing yet another year of vital state funding for spay/neuter services.

This landmark legislation would:

• Fund low-cost spay and neuter services for low-income dog and cat owners across New Jersey.

• Provide affordable Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs by providing affordable spay/neuter options for community cat caregivers.

• Establish a pilot low-cost spay/neuter clinic to serve New Jersey residents.

Animal advocates, veterinarians, and rescue organizations all agree — this bill would dramatically reduce suffering and prevent the births of thousands of unwanted animals every year.

Why It Matters

Shelters are full. Volunteers, donors and rescue groups are burning out. Community cat populations are exploding. Without access to affordable TNR, one unaltered cat can lead to thousands of kittens over time. 75% of kittens born on the streets die before they reach 6-months from disease or trauma. Low-cost TNR can humanely reduce community cat populations and stop the suffering in our streets.

Families are hurting. With the cost of living and veterinary care on the rise, many New Jersey pet owners can’t afford spay/neuter — a basic necessity for animal welfare.

The numbers don’t lie: Scientific studies show that comprehensive TNR can reduce community cat populations by up to 82%. That’s a long-term, humane solution that works — and this bill would finally bring state-level funding and support to make it possible.

But the Bill Is Stuck

Despite being introduced in 2020, S261/A3635 has been stalled in legislative committees. It’s time to demand action. The bill must move forward before the end of the 2025 term — or we risk losing this opportunity again.

How can you help?

1. Click our Linktr.ee

2. Sign the Petition

3. Share and use hashtags #BillS261/A3635 #BillS261 #A3635 #FinallyFixedNJ #ItsHipToSnip

4. Email or call key legislators and tell them it’s critical they advance Bill S261/A3635 and why. Not sure what to say? Click our email templates you can cut and paste.

   1. Senator Nicholas P. Scutari, Senate President: https://njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster/237/senator-scutari

   2. Senator Nilsa I. Cruz-Pérez, President of the Committee on Economic Growth: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster/371/senator-cruz-perez

   3. Assemblyman William W. Spearman, President of the Committee on Commerce, Economic Development, and Agriculture: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster/415/assemblyman-spearman

We Need Your Voice

We can’t afford to wait another year. Share this message on social media. Email your local representatives. Talk to friends and family. Let’s bring affordable, accessible spay/neuter to every corner of New Jersey. Let’s protect community cats. Let’s support low-income pet owners. Let’s pass S261/A3635 — because compassion should be the law.

Sources: A Case Study in Citizen Science: The Effectiveness of a Trap-Neuter-Return Program in a Chicago Neighborhood, 12-year study of street cats reveals how to successfully control population numbers, Reproductive capacity of free-roaming domestic cats and kitten survival rate