MICAH Z. KELLNER65
th
Assembly District
THE ASSEMBLYSTATE OF NEW YORKALBANY
COMMITTEESBanksCitiesCorporations, Authorities and CommissionsConsumer Affairs and ProtectionRacing and WageringSteering
Kellner, Advocates Unveil Legislation That Will SaveThousands of New York’s Shelter Animals
NYC – New York State Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner (D-Upper East Side,Yorkville, and Roosevelt Island), along with animal rescue advocates, announcedcomprehensive legislation that will ensure qualified animal welfare groups access to shelteranimals.
The Companion Animal Access and Rescue Act (CAARA) sets minimum standards that allowrescue groups to recover animals from a shelter, a society for the prevention of cruelty toanimals, humane society or pound that are scheduled to be destroyed. Current New York lawonly allows for individuals to adopt from shelters, which gives shelters the ability to deny thesequalified groups access to these animals.“There are tens of thousands animals in New York State shelters waiting to be adopted and mostare healthy, well-behaved, and just in need of a loving home,” Assembly Member Kellner said.“When a humane organization volunteers to take these animals, they should not be denied. Ashelter should work with them to the fullest extent possible. States like California and Delawarehave already passed similar legislation, and now it is time for New York to step up to the plate.”In 1998, California passed the Hayden Law which includes a provision this legislation ismodeled after, allowing not-for-profit animal rescue or animal adoption organizations to request possession of a dog or cat prior to its killing. Delaware passed similar legislation in 2010 thatseeks to find sheltered animals homes, rather than euthanize them. Both bills passed withoverwhelming bipartisan support.CAARA is a comprehensive measure that goes beyond just giving rescue groups mere access.For the first time, it sets qualifications and guidelines for both shelters and rescue groups.Outlining the responsibilities of those who work directly with the animals will help ensure thatthe animals receive the proper care. These provisions ensure that animals are given fresh foodand water on a daily basis, exercise and socialization with other animals, clean livingenvironments, and prompt veterinary care. Additionally, both paper and digital records arerequired in order to help facilitate finding these animals a home. To ensure compliance, routineinspections of the facility are mandated.Furthermore, CAARA extends whistleblower protections to rescue groups. In many cases, rescuegroups have been denied access to shelters for speaking out against bad practices, whether it be
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834 Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248
(518) 455-
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, FAX (518) 455-
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315 East 65 Street, New York, NY 10065
(212) 860-4906, FAX (917) 432-2983E-mail: KellnerM@assembly.state.ny.us
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5.16.11 Press Release CAARA
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