FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
7/15/2026
Associated Humane Societies-South Prevails in Court against the City of Vineland, Vindicating Its Mission to Advance Animal Welfare and Protect Community Cats.
VINELAND, N.J. — Associated Humane Societies, New Jersey’s largest animal protection and sheltering organization, which operates the AHS-South facility in Vineland (formerly South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter) today announced that it has prevailed in litigation brought by the City of Vineland concerning the shelter’s constitutional right of freedom of contract. The judge’s dismissal of Vineland’s case closes a dispute Vineland had brought challenging AHS’s longstanding commitment to humane, evidence-based animal welfare and sheltering practices, including the protection of community cats.
In 2025, AHS gave Vineland a proposed contract to provide animal services for 2026. Vineland refused to sign it because Vineland was unwilling to follow current best practices for the protection of community cats. In particular, Vineland demanded that AHS impound healthy, ear-tipped community cats who had already been sterilized and vaccinated through Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) programs, which is against modern, animal welfare best practices in the United States, and flatly contrary to AHS’ pro-animal policies and mission. Ear-tipped cats are universally recognized as having been sterilized and returned to their outdoor homes, where they help stabilize community cat populations and reduce future shelter intake. AHS refused to needlessly take in these healthy cats and instead urged Vineland to update its outdated and unworkable local codes.
To protect animals, AHS elected to continue to provide services in the beginning of 2026 — without a contract on a temporary basis — while it attempted to convince Vineland to accept the community cats provision of AHS’ proposed contract to protect animals. The needs of the animals come first for AHS. However, when Vineland failed to pay AHS for services rendered in 2025 and would not cure its failure, AHS was forced to suspend services. When Vineland eventually paid the outstanding balance for services provided in 2025, AHS resumed the provision of services on a good-faith basis during negotiations on a potential contract for 2026 services.
Thereafter, in negotiations, when AHS would not depart from its principals and modern best practices for community cats, and Vineland would not agree to having such provisions in the proposed contract, Vineland filed a lawsuit against AHS in an attempt to strong-arm AHS into capitulating in the contract negotiations. Vineland asked the court to rule AHS’ modern policies contrary to law and to order AHS to contract with Vineland to provide services.
On March 31, 2026, AHS was compelled to withdraw its offer to contract with Vineland and stopped voluntarily providing services. AHS wrote to Vineland as follows: The City of Vineland has not signed an animal services contract with Associated Humane Societies Inc. for 2026, has not sought to negotiate in good faith, and has instead sued AHS. The City has done this even though City officials have admitted that AHS has provided satisfactory services and despite the fact that AHS offered the City services for 2026 at a discounted rate — purely as a matter of AHS’ good faith. At this point, there is no reason for AHS to continue to offer to provide services to the City for 2026, and certainly not at a good-faith, discounted rate. Accordingly, AHS hereby gives notice that it hereby withdraws its offer to provide animal services to the City and is terminating services to the City at the end of the day today. AHS will invoice the City for the services AHS has provided up to today and expects prompt payment. Vineland would not withdraw its lawsuit, and accordingly the parties had to continue in court.
Throughout the litigation, AHS maintained that all other municipalities in Cumberland County agreed to AHS’ contractual terms and payment rates, and that impounding healthy, sterilized community cats was inconsistent with its nonprofit mission, modern animal welfare standards, and the purpose of TNVR programs. The shelter argued that requiring the routine impoundment of healthy ear-tipped cats would unnecessarily subject animals to stress, divert limited shelter resources, and undermine successful community cat management efforts. On July 14, 2026, the Court denied Vineland’s request for relief and dismissed Vineland’s case with prejudice, so Vineland cannot refile.
“We are grateful that the court ruled strongly in our favor,” said Brian Hackett, AHS’s Director of Government and Community Relations. “The judge correctly recognized our legal right of freedom to contract with parties that are willing to abide by our pro-animal policies and mission. We declined to continue working with the City of Vineland because it repeatedly made unreasonable demands, failed to pay appropriately or on time, and proved to be an untenable partner. Our mission has always been to protect animals through humane, compassionate, and scientifically supported practices. We could not compromise those principles by accepting Vineland’s unreasonable terms. We are pleased that the Court agreed with AHS on all counts and dismissed their meritless litigation against our nonprofit charity.”
The court’s decision affirms AHS’s position in the contractual dispute and allows the organization to continue focusing its resources on animals truly in need of care, including injured, sick, abandoned, and at-risk pets. Further, the Court recognized that New Jersey state law establishes “non-delegable duty” upon the municipality to provide animal services to its residents. The Court further rules that while nonprofit shelters often contract with local towns to provide services, they are not under any legal obligation to do so, including if the services are not provided in an ethical manner in accordance with the non-profit’s policies and mission.
For years, AHS has worked with residents, volunteers, veterinarians, and animal welfare advocates to promote Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return as an effective and humane approach to managing community cat populations. National animal welfare organizations widely recognize TNVR as the preferred method for reducing outdoor cat populations while improving animal welfare. AHS will continue to encourage and work with all New Jersey municipalities to ensure that progressive animal welfare policies are in place, aligned with national best practices, to ensure animal welfare when they enter AHS shelters.
Dante DiPirro, the Chairman of the Board of AHS said: “We are grateful to the Judge for vindicating our right of freedom of contract so that we can follow our policies and mission of promoting humane and progressive animal welfare. It is a shame that the City chose to file a lawsuit instead of signing an animal services contract that so many other municipalities have signed, and that Vineland’s filing of a lawsuit has caused AHS to divert tens of thousands of dollars away from helping animals in order to defend itself in litigation. AHS intends to ask the court to order Vineland to reimburse AHS for its costs and fees from this frivolous lawsuit.”
“This case was about protecting animals’ interests wherever AHS chooses to provide municipal animal services,” said Danielle Mania, AHS’s Chief Operating Officer. “It was also about staying true to our charitable mission and ensuring our limited resources are directed where they can do the most good. We remain committed to working collaboratively with municipalities that share our goal of protecting animals and the community and encourage Vineland residents to report concerns regarding the city of Vineland’s obligations in providing animal care and impoundment to the county and state departments of health.”
AHS extends its sincere appreciation to its supporters, volunteers, donors, and legal counsel, Colin Bell, Esq, of Hankin Palladino Weintrob Bell & Labov, Counsellors at Law, whose encouragement and commitment helped sustain the organization throughout the litigation. Because AHS incurred significant legal expenses because of Vineland’s litigation, the organization welcomes donations to help offset those costs at www.ahscares.org.
With the legal proceedings concluded, Associated Humane Societies looks forward to continuing its lifesaving work, expanding partnerships with the community, and advancing humane, evidence-based animal welfare throughout New Jersey.
About Associated Humane Societies, Inc.
Associated Humane Societies, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization dedicated to protecting companion animals through sheltering, adoption, Trap-Neuter-Return programs, community outreach, humane education, and policy advocacy for animals. Its mission is to improve the lives of animals through compassionate care, responsible stewardship, and evidence-based practices that serve both animals and the communities in which they live. As New Jersey’s largest animal sheltering and protection organization, it provides animal services to over 50 New Jersey municipalities to ensure that the state mandates for animal care and welfare are appropriately provided to residents.
Media Contact:
Brian Hackett
Director, Government and Community Relations
Associated Humane Societies, Inc.
732-258-3393
bhackett@ahsppz.org
