Animal hoarding in Edison Township is investigated under the New Jersey Animal Cruelty Statute (N.J.S.A. 4:22), the strongest in the country after the 2017 reforms. The Edison Police Department holds primary cruelty-enforcement jurisdiction under N.J.S.A. 4:22-14.1 (enacted 2017). Chapter 9 of the Township Code adds local sanitary and shelter requirements. Conditions involving large numbers of animals, inadequate food, water, or shelter, or accumulated waste trigger seizure and criminal charges.
New Jersey overhauled its animal cruelty enforcement structure in 2017 (L.2017, c.331). Under N.J.S.A. 4:22-14.1, each county now has a designated animal-cruelty prosecutor, and primary cruelty-investigation authority lies with municipal police departments — for Edison, the Edison Township Police Department, with the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office handling indictable charges. Animal hoarding is prosecuted under multiple sections of N.J.S.A. 4:22: §4:22-17 (cruelty — failure to provide necessary care) is a disorderly persons offense; §4:22-26 (civil penalties) reaches up to $5,000 per animal; serious or repeat cases are charged as third- or fourth-degree crimes. Edison Code Chapter 9 imposes baseline sanitary standards — animals must be kept in sanitary conditions with adequate ventilation, food, water, and shelter, and quarters must be cleaned to prevent vermin and odors. Multi-animal premises that fail these standards are referred to Edison Animal Control and Edison PD. Convicted hoarders may be barred from owning animals as a condition of probation. The Edison Health Department coordinates with the NJ SPCA, the Animal Welfare Federation of NJ, and the Middlesex County Animal Shelter on seizures and placement.
Animal hoarding charges in Edison are prosecuted by Edison PD under N.J.S.A. 4:22-17 (disorderly persons — up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine) or as a third- or fourth-degree crime in severe cases (up to 5 years imprisonment and $15,000 fine). Civil penalties under §4:22-26 reach $5,000 per animal. Edison Health Department code citations under Chapter 9 add $100–$2,000 per offense. Convicted hoarders are commonly subject to a court order barring future animal ownership and mandatory psychiatric evaluation.
Edison, NJ
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Edison, NJ
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Edison, NJ
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Edison, NJ
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Edison, NJ
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Edison, NJ
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