Relates to the care of animals

Title of bill

An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the care of animals

Purpose

To provide additional provisions to the agriculture and markets law relating to fire safety, grooming, sanitation, and veterinary exam requirements, as well as additional standards of care for nursing and pregnant dogs.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 amends subdivision 1 of section 401 of the agriculture and markets law by adding a requirement to paragraph(e), which relates to indoor facilities and states that animal areas must be provided with regular diurnal light cycles of either natural or artificial light. Paragraph (g) of subdivision 1 is amended by adding a requirement that separate and apart from the whelping box, a pet dealer shall provide a pregnant or nursing dog with a separate space accessible to her that complies with the standards set forth in paragraph (b) of this subdivision. In addition, each nursing dog shall be provided with a sufficient amount of floor space to nurse and care for her litter. Paragraph(h) of subdivision 1 is amended to provide that isolation areas must meet all housing requirements of this section.

Section 2 amends subdivision 2 of section 401 of the agriculture and markets law by adding the requirement that primary enclosures must be cleaned daily and sanitized at least once every two weeks using one of the listed methods.

Section 3 provides that food receptacles must be sanitary.

Section 4 amends subdivision 5 of section 401 of the agriculture and markets law by adding a subparagraph (vi), which requires annual veterinary examinations for all adult dogs or cats on a pet dealer's premises. This provision applies to dealers who sell or offer to sell twenty-five or more dogs or cats per year to the public for profit that are born and raised on the dealer's residential premises.

Section 5 amends subdivision 7of section 401 of the agriculture and markets law. Subdivision 7 is amended to require that the exercise plan that pet dealers must implement shall be approved by the attending veterinarian and shall be provided to the department by mail or electronic means.

Section 5 also adds a new subdivision to section 401 of the agriculture and markets law, subdivision 8. Subdivision 8 provides that all animals shall be groomed regularly to prevent excessive matting of fur, overgrown toenails and flea and tick infestation.

Section 6 provides the effective date.

Justification

This bill will afford increased protections for animals in the care of pet dealers. The bill will require pet dealers to regularly groom the animals in their care. There have been reports throughout the state of pet dealers neglecting to properly groom animals, and animals have been found with excessively overgrown nails, excessive matting of fur, and flea and tick infestation. The bill also gives increased protections for nursing and pregnant dogs, by requiring that pet dealers provide such dogs with a separate amount of floor space, apart from her whelping box, which ensures that she can safely and adequately nurse and care for her litter.

Pet dealers must be held to standards that will promote the safety, good health, and overall well-being of the animals in their care. This legislation will afford much needed protections to improve the quality of life of these animals and will prevent negligent treatment by pet dealers.

Legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Effective immediately.