The section reads "Any member, officer or agent of the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or any sheriff, undersheriff, constable, certified animal control officer who has been properly authorized pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1983, c. 525 (C.4:19-15.16b) or police officer may:
I would take this to mean the person making the arrest must be either a member, orfficer or agent of the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or sheriff, etc. This man is not from NJSPCA nor is he a Sheriff, undersheriff, etc. It does not say he can be an officer of any state agency. I also checked the website of NJ Human Services. No where is investigating animal cruelty complaints listed as part of their purview.
I looked up Woodbridge Department of Health & Human Services and animal control is part of the department. The guy may have had authority but he seems to have jumped the gun. If the dog was fine and the woman was only in the store for a few minutes there simply isn't any abuse to be arrested for.
I think he just happened on a situation that gave him a chance to be a control freak with a badge.