‘Nosey’s Law’ is here

It’s official: “Nosey’s Law” is on the books! New Jersey is the first state to enact a ban on traveling wild animal acts, and it won’t be the last. It’s only a matter of time before beating, whipping, and prodding animals to perform tricks is a thing of the past everywhere.

This precedent was sparked when Nosey, a lonely, stressed, and painfully arthritic elephant, was forced to plod in circles day after day at the state fair. Appalled, Raymond J. Lesniak, then a state senator, introduced Nosey’s Law to ban traveling elephant acts in New Jersey.

Nosey’s Law—which was expanded to cover other wild and exotic animals—garnered massive support, but former Gov. Chris Christie “pocket vetoed” the bill. Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez and Assemblymembers Raj Mukherji, Andrew Zwicker, and Jamel Holley gave the bill new life.

Last year, Nosey was seized from her abusers after she was found chained and swaying in her own waste, suffering from urinary tract and skin infections, intestinal parasites, painful osteoarthritis, and dehydration and malnutrition. She is now thriving at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.

PETA’s efforts, alongside those of animal advocates in New Jersey, have inspired one of the most progressive bans on wild animal acts to date. The public is demanding better for animals and they are getting it.

— Rachel Mathews, Esq., Associate Director, PETA

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