Grisanti-Sponsored Bill Aimed To Protect Dogs And Cats From Abusive Treatment By Pet Dealers Signed Into Law
Mark Grisanti
August 5, 2013
-
ISSUE:
- Crime
Senator Mark Grisanti (R, I-60)
today announced Bill S.3955A has been signed into law, legislation that
protects dogs and cats from abusive treatment by pet dealers in New York State.
The law amends the agriculture and markets law related to administrative
hearings and processes for pet dealers.
The bill, sponsored by Senator
Grisanti, passed the New York State Legislature earlier this year and was
signed into law this week by Governor Andrew Cuomo.
"What we have with this law is
another form of legislation that aims at cracking down on people who handle
animals irresponsibly by causing harm to these defenseless creatures,"
said Senator Grisanti. "We want to regulate commercial breeders and pet
stores and be an advocate for dogs, cats and all other pets who are
abused."
The new law protect dogs and cats
from abusive treatment by pet dealers by requiring that administrative hearings
be held to determine whether a pet dealer license should be suspended or
revoked after a certain pattern of failed inspections has occurred.
The legislation mandates an
administrative hearing be scheduled after three consecutive failed inspections
or three failed inspections within a three-year time period. By requiring
hearings, those who have a pattern of being out of compliance with the laws
that apply to the care of animals will be subject to having their licenses
suspended or revoked and preventing them from further mistreating animals.
"For more than a decade, laws
regulating pet dealers in New York State have failed to adequately protect dogs
in the state's pet stores and commercial breeding facilities," said Bill
Ketzer, senior director of ASPCA Government Relations for the Northeast region.
"This measure will provide the Department of Agriculture and Markets with
a stronger enforcement mechanism to hold frequent violators of the state's pet
dealer law accountable for repeat offenses. We applaud Governor Cuomo for
signing this measure into law and thank Senator Grisanti for his continued
commitment to passing legislation that protects animals."
The law also permits for additional actions to be taken regarding a pet
dealer's license prior to a licensee failing either three consecutive
inspections or three inspections over three years, a provision to help quickly
prevent the most egregious practices and animal abuse from continuing.
"Many of the pets that have
been abused are later sold to unsuspecting consumers," said Senator
Grisanti. "It is not fair to those people and obviously it is extremely
unfair to the animals. This type of abuse must be prevented and this law will
help better track repeat offenders to help punish them for this despicable
behavior."
This law closely follows ongoing
discussions and attention to pending legislation that Senator Grisanti has
sponsored that calls for cracking down on puppy mills. Bill S.3753, which is
still awaiting the governor's signature to become a law, permits local
governments to regulate puppy mills and pet stores