Update Feb. 11, 2010: The case was dismissed today. Judge Kent Jasperson dismissed the case at the outset, stating FLOCK itself could not be named as a defendant and pointing out the individual directors and officers had only been named and served the day before. Judge Jasperson had refused a prosecution request for a continuance. 

Update: This bill died upon adjournment of the state legislature. 

A pending Arkansas bill, S.B. 864, would require state licenses for all owners of 12 or more dog or cats.

Authorities would be able to enter the premises during business hours and inspect the animals and areas where they are kept for violations of the licensing provision.

A New Jersey bill now pending in the state legislature, S1989/A2981, would establish the crime of animal hoarding.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Jeff Van Drew and Assembly members Nelson T. Albano and Matthew W. Milam.

Basically the bill would make it a crime to keep animals in such numbers that the owner or custodian cannot or will not provide them with minimum care and they suffer "death, bodily injury or other serious adverse health consequences". 

There are news reports almost daily about raids on people called animal hoarders who have large numbers of animals suffering in deplorable, filthy conditions. The news reports typically show a home or some building or property overcrowded with starving, sick or injured animals, sometimes in cages and all living with piles of waste, garbage and sometimes dead animals everywhere.