The tragedy of a Rottweiler's inadvertent death during an overnight stay in a pet clinic has less of a chance of occurring if a law signed in Toms River today has its intended effect.

"Betsy's Law" enacted in Toms River by Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (Stacy Proebstle)
"Betsy's Law" enacted in Toms River by Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (Stacy Proebstle)
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"Betsy's Law," sponsored by shore state Senator James Holzapfel and Assemblymen Dave Wolfe and Greg McGuckin (R-10) was enacted by Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno at the Toms River Animal Shelter.

The measure stems from the incident in a veterinary clinic with minimal overnight supervision. The dog became entangled inside a crate and died, essentially, by hanging.

"Betsy's Law" (S-903/A-1186) requires veterinarians and animal hospitals to notify owners in writing if boarded pets will not have direct full-time supervision by individuals on premises. It requires full disclosure to pet owners of the risks associated with overnight stays.

"When pet owners leave their pet in the care of a veterinary facility, they assume the animal is being supervised around the clock and receiving the best of care," Holzapfel said in a prepared statement. "This tragic incident could have been prevented if the facility had better informed its client of its operating procedures."

The law encourages pet owners to reach informed decisions regarding unsupervised veterinary stays, and helps prevent misrepresentation by boarding facilities about safety matters.

"Better communication on the part of veterinarians will provide peace of mind for customers, and help prevent similar accidents in the future," Wolfe said.

McGuckin added, "This legislation will hopefully prevent other pet owners from experiencing the same tragic outcome as Betsy did when leaving their pet in a facility overnight."

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