"The Companion Animal Care Standards Act" sponsored by Addabbo, passes legislature and now awaits Governor's signature to become law
Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr.
June 14, 2022
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.