"The Companion Animal Care Standards Act" sponsored by Addabbo, passes legislature and now awaits Governor's signature to become law

The Companion Animal Care Standards Act (S.6870-B) sponsored by NYS Senate Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. is currently awaiting final approval by the Governor after passing the NYS Senate and Assembly in May. The bill will require all entities — shelters and rescues — to be licensed by the Department of Agriculture and Markets which will ensure New York State's homeless companion animals will live in safe and humane conditions, with proper cleaning, nourishment, and veterinary care. All licensed facilities will be considered animal shelters under the law.

“Despite much progress in recent years, the standard of care for homeless animals was not adequate at many not-for-profit operations across the state,” Addabbo said. “This legislation, once signed into law, will ensure all shelter and rescue companion animals would live in safe and humane conditions, with proper cleaning, nourishment, and veterinary care and current ineffective laws would be obsolete,” added Addabbo.

By enhancing the care standards for New York’s homeless companion animals, the bill will:

• Require all personnel to have on-going training on the care of homeless companion animals. 
• Require recordkeeping of animal records, including health and behavior. 
• Ban dangerous and reckless methods of animal transport. 
• Recognize the importance of foster care in animal sheltering, while requiring shelters and rescues to monitor and track all foster providers. 
• Require all entities to have a clear, written, management structure that defines staff authority, reporting structure and responsibilities. 
• Establish staffing requirements that are sufficient to feed each animal, clean enclosures and provide socialization and exercise. 
• Require that the number of animals housed will not exceed the number of humane housing units available. 
   

   

  The effective date of this legislation would be three years after it is signed into law, allowing those organizations affected by the legislation ample opportunity to work to meet these new standards. For some it will mean physical upgrades which the Companion Animal Capital Fund can assist with. For others, it means upgrading current and/or creating new policies and procedures that will enhance the day-to-day care of New York’s homeless companion animals.

   

  New York State’s Companion Animal Capital Fund has invested $20M in shelter capital projects. The Standards Act calls for improving the physical plant at licensed facilities including indoor building surfaces, drainage, electrical power and emergency back-up, water & sewer, air handling systems, ammonia levels, noise levels, animal housing, isolation, lighting, and vermin & pest control. The Fund is included in the Governor’s executive budget and the Federation is asking the legislature to continue its legacy of $5M to bring the Fund to $10M. This Fund provides shelters with the opportunity to apply for funding that will help them meet the physical standards called for in the bill.

   

  “Special thanks to the veterinarians, shelter directors, and numerous animal advocates, who were instrumental in the creation of these uniform standards to support and enhance the lifesaving work of all organizations serving homeless and abused animals,” Addabbo concluded.