A state Senate committee on Monday heard testimony over several bills that aim that protect the animal rights of dogs and cats.

For instance, some activists got emotional over a couple of bills before lawmakers , including one that would use state tax dollars to fund a so-called “TNVR” — or trap, neuter, vaccinate and release — approach in controlling feral or unsocialized cats. Feral cat colonies are spreading, like the one under Atlantic City’s boardwalk. In 2021, cats comprised 60% of animals impounded in New Jersey and 80% of those euthanized.

“Organizations like mine cannot continue to sustain paying for all the community cats and the feral cats that are brought to our attention,” said Kathy McGuire, president of NJ Aid for Animals, in support of the Compassion for Community Cats bill. Supporters told the Senate Economic Growth Committee.

Exploding cat populations can overwhelm local organizations and town shelters. One Burlington County shelter reports spending $70,000 on TNVR this year. But it adds, the number of cats the shelter euthanizes has dropped from 500 in 2019 to 200 this year.

However, members of the Freedom Center for Wildlife opposed the measure. “You will hear shelter workers say they are stressed by having to euthanize cats. This is true. Here is something else that’s stressful: working in wildlife rehab, and holding in your hand the broken body of a songbird that’s traveled 1,000 miles — only to land in the jaws of a cat,” said Linda Cherkassky.

Overcrowded animal shelters could get a boost from another bill that would ban pet shops from selling dogs, cats and rabbits from breeders — and instead foster adoption from shelters. But that proposal has touched off its own battle.

“Unsuspecting consumers are routinely duped by pet stores’ claims that their animals come from “family breeders.” Small breeders. In reality, virtually all animals sold at pet stores are sourced from mills — large-scale commercial breeding facilities that prioritize profit over the welfare of animals,” says Kathleen Schwartzmann, senior legislative affairs manager at the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

Pet shop owners were outraged and blamed so-called activists for trying to close them down.

“These animal rights people have been harassing us for years — sending in undercover activists with hidden cameras, harassing town officials with spam emails and lies about our business,” said Jeff Morton, owner and president of Shake a Paw and Shake a Paw Rescue and Adoption Center. “Make no mistake — the activists will stop at nothing to drive our stores out of business.”

Seven states have already passed similar laws, and New York’s ban on animal sales in pet shops takes effect next year.

“If New Jersey doesn’t pass this law in 2024, some of these same bad actors in New York will come right across the river and come to our state,” warned Brian Hackett, New Jersey director of government relations for the Humane Society of the United States.

The committee didn’t vote on any of these measures.