Pet owners would have a clear understanding of the risks before boarding their pets for a night or longer, under a shore-based measure that cleared the New Jersey General Assembly.

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"Betsy's Law" (S-903/A-1186), sponsored by Senator Jim Holzapfel and Assemblymen Dave Wolfe and Greg McGuckin (R-10), corresponds to the death of a dog that became entangled and hanged in her crate after a minor medical procedure. The lawmakers say that their aim is to ensure that pet owners can reach informed choices in authorizing veterinary care.

"When you leave a pet in the care of the veterinary facility you believe they are in good hands and are being supervised around the clock," Holzapfel said in a prepared statement. "Betsy's incident was a tragic accident that could have been prevented."

Under the bill, veterinarians and animal hospitals would be required to notify owners in writing if boarded animals are not given 24-hour supervision by someone physically at the site. Pet owners would also be given clear understanding of dangers common to boarding situations.

"We're talking about animal lovers who are leaving their pets in the care of veterinarian facilities, and this was a poignant situation," Wolfe said. "I think it provides peace of mind for the customer, but is not burdensome for veterinarians."

In addition, the bill helps to prevent veterinarians from misleading animal owners about the safety of these boarding conditions, as was done in Betsy's case.

"Most people don't realize that when boarding your pet overnight, it will be hours in between visits from a staff member or technician," McGuckin said. "We have been at the forefront of protecting pet owners from experiencing the same tragic outcome as Betsy did when leaving their pet with a vet overnight."

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