Requires animal shelters to annually report on intake and disposition of animals

BILL NUMBER:S7612A

Title of bill

An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to requiring certain animal shelters to prepare annual reports on the number of animal intakes and dispositions

Purpose

To promote better care of animals placed in shelters by requiring greater transparency on the part of state funded animal shelters with regard to both the intake and disposition of animals.

Summary of provisions

Section one amends the agriculture and markets law by adding a new section 374-a which provides that any animal shelter that receives state funding shall prepare an annual report by January first of each year. Such annual report shall include the number of animal intakes, including, but not limited to animals that were surrendered by owners; were brought in by animal control, specifying from which jurisdiction; and were brought in as strays by someone other than the animal's owner. The report shall also include the number of animal dispositions, including, but not limited to animals that were adopted; were released to owners, or were transferred to other facilities, specifying the facility. The report shall include the number of animals that have died, specifying the reason for death, including deaths by euthanasia and the reasons for such euthanasia deaths. Each shelter that maintains a website, shall post a notice on its website stating that its report is available to be viewed by the public, and shall maintain each annual report for three years. Each animal shelter shall maintain at least one printed copy of their annual report to be viewed by the public on site upon request.

Section two provides the effective date.

Justification

As with most organizations that receive public funding, animal shelters that receive state funding are accountable to the public. The number of animals that are cared for by each shelter and the source of the animals are of interest to the public. The disposition of such animals is of equal interest, and an important indicator of the quality of and commitment to the rescue and care of animals. By requiring shelters that receive state funding to reveal certain spec- ified information in the form of an annual report, this legislation will promote transparency and accountability, which in turn may lead to improved animal care and more favorable dispositions. The financial burden to the shelters is minimal when balanced against the potential for great gains in the quality of shelter practices.

Legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications

Minimal cost to state funded animal shelters to produce annual reports.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however that animal shelters subject to this act shall have completed their first annual report no later than January 1, 2012.