Committee on Animals and the Law

The rule would bring dog owners who breed more than four females and sell the puppies online, by mail or over the phone under federal oversight .
To see the USDA News Release click here: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/2013/09/retail_pet_final_rule.shtml

The State Senate passed a bill that would allow consumers more protections when purchasing a pet. The bill (S.3723B), sponsored by Senator John Flanagan (R-C-I, East Northport), would provide consumers with more information about the origins of their pet, and more protections should their pet become ill, under what is known as the "pet lemon law."
To see the full article see: http://www.empirestatenews.net/News/20130613-5.html

The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) has announced that it will be working with the New York State Office of the Attorney General on its new Animal Protection Initiative, providing critical training and support for investigating and prosecuting large scale animal cruelty and fighting cases in New York State.

To read the full story see: http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/06/06/4925771/aspca-to-collaborate-with-new.html

The NY state senate has passed a bill co-sponsored by Senator James Seward that would toughen punishment for people who kill or injure police animals. The bill would increase the penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony. The legislation now goes to the state assembly for consideration.

There has been renewed interest in the bill following the shooting death of FBI police dog Ape during a raid on a barricaded gunman.
According to Seward, "we owe a great debt of gratitude to the police and others who responded to the multiple scenes, put their lives on the line, and sacrificed to protect us all and that includes K-9 officer Ape"
What do you think?

Please see: http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/03/state_senators_pass_bill_to_to.html

The Dog or Cat Breeders Act, passed by the Legislature in 2011 and implemented Sept. 1, 2012, requires commercial dog and cat breeders to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations, to submit to a pre-licensing inspection and provide minimum standards of care, or face fines.
A federal court Thursday rejected a motion by the Responsible Pet Owners Alliance (representing 305 American Kennel Club groups in Texas),to block the law from going into effect.

Proponents of the bill intend to prevent puppy mills, and argue that the law hasn't gone far enough to safeguard animals from disreputable breeders. They are calling on lawmakers to further increase the standards for care such as requiring minimum cage sizes and prohibiting cage stacking.

Opponents of the bill argue that the law is too vague and will only drive good breeders out of business.

For more info see: http://www.texastribune.org/2013/02/01/after-court-ruling-continued-battle-over-cat-and-d/

What do you think?

The Westchester County Board of Legislators unanimously approved a new law that establishes a county-wide registry for animal abuse offenders.
The following states currently have an animal abusers registry: California, District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maine, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia. Proposed animal abuse registry legislation is in place in many other states as well, and the FBI is pushing for a federal bill.
Some studies show that there is a link between animal abuse, domestic violence and child abuse. Such a registry could then potentially help animals but also people.
For more info see:
http://www.animalconcerns.org/external.html?www=http%3A//www.westchester.com/news/westchesternews/government/17370-westchester-to-establish-registry-of-animal-abuse-offenders.html&itemid=201211200720320.783099

What is your opinion on animal abuse registries? Do you think it could advance animal welfare or is it going too far?

Lewis & Clark Law School developed a yearlong Master in Animal Law Program with the Animal Legal Defense Fund in Portland, Ore. Enrollment is expected to grow to 15 or 20 students in three to five year.
The success of this program mirrors the growing interest in this particular field.
The article in the Washington Post focuses on the story of a student who wants to use her degree to help fight breed bias. See http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/worlds-1st-masters-of-laws-program-concentrates-on-animal-law-lures-animal-welfare-advocates/2012/10/23/6acef7b4-1cec-11e2-8817-41b9a7aaabc7_story.html
What do you think about Breed Specific Legislation?
Do you believe programs like this Master in Law could help with advancing animal welfare?

The Bronx and Queens have not had their own animal shelters since at least 1985, in part because city officials have insisted that it is unnecessary and costly to have one in each borough. Instead, there is a "pet receiving center" in each of these boroughs that accepts drop-offs several times a week for transport to shelters in Manhattan and Brooklyn and on Staten Island, which offer a range of veterinary and adoption services. The result is that residents take matters into their own hands.
A 2011 law increased financing for Animal Care and Control of NYC, a nonprofit group that contracts with the city to operate the shelters and receiving centers and provide other services. Its budget rose to nearly $11 million this fiscal year, up from $7.1 million last year, according to city health officials.

But for some people it is not enough and there is an urgent need for shelters in the 2 boroughs. Some people still dumped unwanted or injured animals outside because they cannot not wait for the receiving center to open, and don't want to spend the time or money to take them to a shelter in another borough.

See the New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/12/nyregion/bronx-residents-without-a-nearby-animal-shelter-help-strays-on-their-own.html?nl=nyregion&emc=edit_ur_20121012&_r=1&

The Los Angeles City Council will consider this month a three-year ban on the sale of commercially bred dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores. The idea is to steer prospective pet owners to local animal shelters to alleviate overcrowding and reduce the number of animals euthanized. City officials also hope to cut demand from Puppy Mills.
Opponents argue that the ban will only hurt and close down responsible pet stores. It might also make things worst by driving people to sell their puppies on the Internet or some other unregulated way. Instead it would be more efficient to have the city place rules on the breeding of pets so consumers in Los Angeles can be assured that if they buy a dog in a pet store that they're getting it from a very good breeder.

For more details see: http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_21721517/l-hoping-save-shelter-dogs-and-cats-ban

What do you think?
Should such a ban be put in place in NY?

ASPCA is urging to support the Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act. According to the organization military dogs are "currently classified as "equipment" by the U.S. Department of Defense. This classification not only trivializes these animals' contributions, it also makes it difficult to transport dogs serving in foreign lands back to the United States for adoption once they're ready for civilian life."

The Bill would remedy this issue by instituting programs to assist with their placement and veterinary care after retirement from service.

See http://capwiz.com/aspca/issues/alert/?alertid=61336366

What do you think? Would this Bill help Military Dogs in your opinion?