"If pet dealers are going to profit from the sale of
living animals, they should at the very least adhere to basic standards of
decency and care," Governor Cuomo said. "These new rules will create
safer, more sanitary and more humane conditions for animals while they wait for
a new permanent home."
Senator Jen Metzger said, "This legislation, which I
was proud to sponsor, provides much needed protections and standards for
treatment of companion animals under the care of pet dealers and breeders. Now
that this legislation has been signed into law, New Yorkers can be assured that
the animals they purchase have been properly cared for, which is so important
to their long-term health. The law also provides much-needed protection from
the kind of abusive practices and negligent behavior that has occurred at
unscrupulous puppy mills, which care only about profit with little regard for
the animals' welfare."
"Starting today, New York State will ensure that pet
dealers will be held to standards that will promote the safety, good health,
and overall well-being of the animals in their care," said Assembly Member
Amy Paulin. "There have been too many instances when pet dealers have
neglected to properly groom animals in their charge, and those animals have
been found with overgrown nails, excessive matting of fur, and infestations of
fleas and ticks. With this law, we will prevent this kind of negligent
treatment."
Under the new law, the minimum standards of care for all
pets in the custody of pet dealers will be raised to require that primary
enclosures for animals must be cleaned daily and sanitized every two weeks.
Isolation areas for ill animals must meet the housing requirements for healthy
animals.
