What is the pet population in New Jersey?

Answer 1

Reprinted From the November 2001 Issue of New Jersey Municipalities MagazineUnderstanding New Jersey's Animal Control Laws "To estimate the dog population in an area, multiply the number of households by .534 To estimate the cat population in an area, multiply the number of households by .589 Using an estimated statewide population of 8.41 million or 3.24 million households, there are 1.73 million owned dogs and 1.91 million owned cats in New Jersey. Comparatively, only 478,140 dog licenses were issued in 2000, representing less than 28% of the estimated owned dogs. The potential lost annual revenue to municipalities from unlicensed dogs is estimated to be over $ 8 million." "Currently there is no law requiring statewide licensure of cats. The DHSS has supplied a model cat licensing ordinance to health officers and 251 municipalities have reported that they have passed such an ordinance. Municipalities retain all revenue collected from the licensure of cats. Because cats are a significantly higher risk to transmit rabies to humans and create a larger nuisance to residents than dogs, the DHSS strongly encourages municipal officials to pass and enforce cat licensing ordinances."