Dear Readers,
Here we go again. Did you know that New York State is the only state in the nation that forbids local municipalities, towns and counties from regulating the pet breeding and pet sales industry more stringently than state law?
So, the only regulation of these notoriously inhumane businesses is the New York State Pet Dealer Law, a statute that is, in our experience, ineffective even when state officials try to enforce it.
Across the United Sates many local municipalities have passed much more stringent laws that protect these pets, but not here.
Why is this a problem?
Dogs in the state’s many commercial breeding facilities (what we often refer to as puppy mills) typically spend their entire lives in tiny, cramped wire-floored cages that are stacked on top of each other – often outdoors, with inadequate protection from the elements.
Their puppies, who are purchased in pet stores, online and sometimes on a breeder’s property, often go to their new homes with diseases, parasites or congenital and hereditary conditions.
And it’s not just a question of what is humane for animals.
Puppy mills and the pet stores that sell their animals create problems for local governments that the taxpayers have to pay for — the costs associated with unregulated breeders and unwanted pet store dogs through cruelty seizures, sheltering costs for relinquished pets and legal proceedings.
Not to speak of the costs incurred by all the private animal welfare organizations that then have to ask you for donations to support their work!
But there is a solution.
Assembly member Linda Rosenthal and Senator Mark Grisanti have introduced legislation which would enable local municipalities to do better for their animals (and their residents and their budgets).
The bills are NY A.740/S.3753 — Local Government Regulation of Puppy Mills and Pet Stores.
Please join us in supporting this state legislation that would give local governments in New York the power to crack down on cruel and unscrupulous pet dealers.
The Assembly version of this bill (A.740) is now in the Assembly Codes Committee and the Senate version (S.3753) is on the Senate floor and can be voted on at any time.
Many legislators are hearing from pet industry lobbyists and their retail partners, so it is critical that they hear from animal advocates like you as well, and soon, as this legislative session ends in June.
The ASPCA has more information about this important legislation on their website at http://www.capwiz.com/aspca/issues/alert/?alertid=62660136&type=ST or you can just Google ASPCA Advocacy Center and scroll down to find this bill.
There is a link to help you find the name and phone number of your local legislators and we urge you to make that call.
In person phone calls from constituents are always more effective than online emails.
If we can get this bill passed then we can start passing effective local legislation in our own communities!
And after you make your calls reward yourself by going to the west side McDonald’s in Oswego on June 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. McDonald’s will donate 10% of all sales during those hours to the Oswego County Humane Society so they can rescue more puppy mill dogs!
The Oswego County Humane Society provides spay/neuter services and assistance, fostering and adoption of animals in urgent need, humane education programs, and information and referrals to animal lovers throughout Oswego County.
Our office is located at 265 W. First St., Oswego, NY.
Phone (315) 207-1070.
Email:[email protected]
Website: http://www.oswegohumane.org/
Because people and pets are good for each other!
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To whom it may concern, please stop these puppy mills it’s cruel and they didn’t ask to be born, we are their only voice to help them it’s animal cruelty, their lives are just as precious to them as ours is to us they have no choice and these breeders do they only want the money they are cramped in small cages dirty how can this be legal? It’s sick and sad and must stop everywhere let these dogs live like dogs should live.please help them Ty