Bergen County S.P.C.A.

New Jersey State Animal Cruelty Statutes (Title IV)

The Bergen County S.P.C.A. is here to investigate animal cruelty complaints WITHIN Bergen County. Each county has a branch of the S.P.C.A. to investigate complaints within that area. If you are unable to locate the particular S.P.C.A. in your area, please call your local police department and ask them who handles the animal cruelty complaints for your area--they will be able to provide you with that information.

The S.P.C.A. is a law enforcement agency that handles animal cruelty complaints relating to the mistreatment of animals. If your complaint relates to a vicious animal or an animal causing a disturbance in your neighborhood, then that complaint should be filed with your local police department.

What complaints should be filed with the Bergen County S.P.C.A.?

The situation in question is occurring within Bergen County
There is the mistreatment of an animal occurring
- Lack of food and/or water
  - An animal must have water available at all times, especially in the heat
  - It is not necessary that food be available at all times, but the animal must be provided food daily and a sufficient quantity
- Lack of proper shelter from rain, snow, or extreme heat
- Physical abuse to the animal
- Abandonment of the animal
- Animal neglected and/or left in dangerous conditions including
  - Severe weather conditions (hot or cold)
  - Being left in a car in the heat

What complaints should NOT be filed with the Bergen County S.P.C.A.?

The situation in question is NOT occurring within Bergen County (contact your local S.P.C.A. or your local police department for more information)
There is a barking dog in your neighborhood that is annoying
There is a vicious animal in your neighborhood
Someone has been bitten

These types of complaints should be made to your local police department.

When making a complaint:

Be ready to give your name, address, and telephone number (this information will be kept in strictest confidence and is for our records only--it will NOT be shared with the person you are making the complaint about)
Be ready to give the name and address of the person(s) about whom you are making the complaint
Be prepared to give a full description of the complaint along with dates and specifics of what has occurred/is occurring
If you have other witnesses to a specific abuse, be prepared to provide their names, addresses, and telephone numbers (the more witnesses you have to an abuse, the better)
In order to assist us, especially in severe cases such as abuse or neglect, please be willing to testify in court and/or make a sworn written statement to what you have witnessed--we are unable to summons someone without evidence either witnessed by one of our officers or another witness

Our dispatch number is available for receiving complaints 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We will get back to you for more information on your complaint, so be sure to leave daytime and evening telephone numbers.

Our dispatch telephone number is:

201-573-8900

Thank you in advance for taking the time to report instances of animal cruelty in your area. Please be aware that we take each case very seriously and will investigate it fully and completely. It may take a while to fully investigate, since it may require several visits. The assigned officer will call you to let you know that the case has been handled and any information that can be given, but please realize that some of the information may be confidential and cannot be released. Again, any information you give us will be kept in strictest confidence, unless you give your approval otherwise.