NY Senate Advances Legislation to Improve Animal Welfare and Increase Penalty for Mistreatment of Animals

Finally, the New York Senate is advancing a comprehensive package of legislation to fight for animal welfare and increase the penalty for the mistreatment of animals.

The state senators introduced seven bills that focus on animal testing, animal cruelty, animal abandonment, puppy mill sales ban, insurance discrimination for dog breeds, veterinary drug information, and African trophy imports.

“Our pets are like family to many of us, but unfortunately, there remain bad actors who abuse and abandon animals in harsh conditions,” Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said Tuesday. “As Senate majority leader, I have emphasized the importance of animal welfare and how it reflects who we are as a society. This comprehensive package is necessary to combat the mistreatment, neglect and abuse of domestic animals. These bills also promote the proper care and consideration that animals deserve. I commend the bill sponsors, and we will continue to pass common-sense legislation to keep our animal friends out of harm’s way.”

According to Spectrum News 1, the following are the seven bills introduced:

• A bill to ban the manufacture and sale of animal-tested cosmetics. This bill, sponsored by Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, will prohibit the sale of any cosmetics that have been tested on animals. The sale or manufacture of such products would be punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 for the first violation.

Source: PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)/Youtube

• A bill to clarify aggravated cruelty to animals. This bill, sponsored by Sen. Liz Krueger, will eliminate the word “serious” from the “serious physical injury” language of the crime of aggravated animal cruelty. This would ensure appropriate penalties as there is a lot of grey area in what different people would consider “serious”.

• A bill for abandoned property animal instructions. Sponsored by Sen. Michelle Hinchey, will require landlords of vacated properties to inspect the property for abandoned animals within three days if they knew or should have known that the property has been abandoned.
• A bill to ban puppy mill sales. Sponsored by Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, this bill will prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits from retail pet shops. This would create a much-needed barrier between the puppy mill supply chain and encourage pet shops to partner with local animal shelters that have animals available for adoption that need homes.

“With so many good animals in need of rescue, there is no need for puppy mills that abuse animals to supply pet stores,” said Gianaris, a Democrat from Queens. “Our four-legged companions should be treated with respect, not like commodities. I am pleased this important proposal continues to build momentum in the Legislature.”

• A bill to ban insurance discrimination against dog breeds. This bill, sponsored by Sen. Gianaris, would bar insurance companies from excluding, limiting, restricting, or reducing coverage on an insurance policy for homeowners because of a certain breed of dog they have.

Source: WPLG Local 10/Youtube

• A bill for veterinarian drug information. Sponsored by Sen. John Brooks, it will require veterinarians to give information about drug prescriptions to the owners of the animals. This information includes the name, description, directions, actions to be taken if a dose is missed, instructions for proper storage, any adverse effects, manufacturer precautions, and relevant warnings.
• The Big Five African Trophies Act. Sponsored by Sen. Luis Sepulveda, this bill will ban the importation, transportation, and possession of some African wildlife species and products. The five species include lions, leopards, elephants, black and white rhinos, and giraffes, who all are in danger of extinction due to illegal poaching and trading.

Source: National Geographic/Youtube

We hope that all of these bills will pass and make this a better world for animals! Sign this petition to demand all states make all animal abuse a felony now!

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