There are tens of thousands animals in New York State shelters waiting to be adopted and most are healthy, well-behaved, and just in need of a home. Unfortunately, shelters oftentimes don’t have the room or resources to care for these or other animals. Even worse, current New York law does not protect or grant access to the qualified rescue groups that are working to save these loving and loyal animals.
This is why I have introduced the Companion Animal Access and Rescue Act or CAARA. CAARA sets minimum standards that allow rescue groups to recover animals from a shelter, a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, humane society or pound that are scheduled to be destroyed.
CAARA 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 that the animals receive the proper care. These provisions ensure that animals are given fresh food and water on a daily basis, exercise and socialization with other animals, clean living environments, and prompt veterinary care. Additionally, both paper and digital records are required in order to help facilitate finding these animals a home.
Also for the first time, CAARA extends whistleblower protections to rescue groups. In many cases, rescue groups have been denied access to shelters for speaking out against bad practices, whether it be for abuse or mismanagement. Every time a group is turned away, it adds to the undue burden on the taxpayer who has to foot the bill for every animal kept or killed in a shelter.
Allowing qualified groups to have access is not only the compassionate thing to do, but it saves taxpayers money at a time when they need it the most.
I am proud to say that CAARA has earned the support of many of the leading animal welfare groups like Best Friends Animal Society, Alley Cat Allies, the No-Kill Advocacy Center, and the League of Humane Voters of New York.
Having been a foster parent for an animal rescue group, I am heartbroken that so many animals are being senselessly killed. When humane organizations volunteer their expertise in difficult cases, shelters should work with them to the fullest extent possible. This legislation will give every animal another chance at life.
You can read my full press release below:
The requirements of CAARA sound like sensible rules that a shelter worthy of the name should already be following.
But since some of them do NOT live up to their name for whatever sad reason, I’m glad you’re backing a bill that, if passed, will mandate minimum standards for decent care of dogs and cats and that will, equally importantly, allow rescue groups to step in and save the animals who deserve a new opportunity for a good home.
I’m particularly pleased to see Best Friends on this bill’s bandwagon.
May good for all prevail this time around.
Thank you so much for introducing this bill!
Thank you
Thank you, thank you, thank you from all our companion pets in NY state for standing up for them and introducing legislation that will alleviate the suffering and cruelty of the pounds in this state, particularly NYC’s AC&C. You must also have an oversight committee to make sure these ‘killing pounds’ abide by the law (something they are not doing now in NYC),
God bless you and keep you well.
You have my everlasting support.
I live in NYS and I fully support this bill. What can I do to help?
Daniela
Kudos! After the disappointment of seeing Oreo’s Law defeated in NY due to lobbying efforts of the very organizations that most needed to be reformed by it, I’m delighted to see your introduction of CAARA and wish you all Godspeed on it’s success. Your legislation is a beacon to others in the nation who will surely follow!
This is wonderful news! Thank you so much on behalf of all the animals awaiting a furever home and the rescue people who work tirelessly to make that happen. In addition to protecting the rescue whistleblowers, it is imperative that we protect the shelter employees and volunteers who want to make things better for the animals but are afraid to speak up that they will be banned from the facility, like poor Emily who was just terminated from the NYCACC this past week. She played a huge part in finding these death row animals a home, but it seems that in the process upset a few higher ups with the constant attention to “death row” upon which these poor animals await their fate and the senselessness of it all. Keep doing what you’re doing – we’re behind you 100%. Ellen G.
There is absolutely no excuse to work to get these animals the care they deserve when you see that it also saves money.Now who could argue with that?
There a millions of domestic pet companions senselessly killed in tax-paying city shelters. This is NOT why I pay my taxes. There is a No-Kill Advoacy Center that explains and assists all those communities who want to find a better way. Wouldn’t it be prudent for the legislative bodies ” in our cities, villages, to spend our tax dollars in educating in this methodology instead of disposing of millions of domestic pet companions along with sponsoring low cost spay and neuter clinics that can also assist in well-care.
Today’s society only wants to dispose of those that are become inconvenient to themselves or their surroundings because they didn’t prepare nor do they want to give of their time in training, exercise, solicization after the “puppyhood” is over .
We as the human species has created this problem mostly from apathy, greed, and selfishness. The human can resolve this as a community with legislative cooperation.
Although today’s environment is rough economically, we cannot make that an excuse to continue the carnage.
Oh My God finally a bill to protect the animals…stop the murdering, end the torture..I pray from my heart and soul that this bill passes. I will post this on my facebook page and ask that I being a New Yorker can not express my joy in words.
If I can be of any help I will be there.
Thanking, hoping and having faith that it will soon end and we will be a
No Kill Nation.
Lisa Rose Fabia Faga
This is GREAT news and I fully support the legislation. It is VERY important that we allow rescues and sanctuaries and hospice groups to get inside these shelters and help the animals to live out their fullest destinies. If you need marching feet, please let me know, Assemlbyman Kellner. Our organization stands ready to help get this passed. NYS should be a LEADER in the No Kill Solution!!
I am a New Yorker (upstate) and I am grateful that you have introduced CAARA for legislative consideration. I will be working hard to raise awareness and encourage support for this effort. Change must come – all we need is someone to carry the torch! Thank you.
About time for legislation like this! Thanks.
We the people are begging for a new solution to the killing of innocent dogs and cats everyday in the city of New York ACC Shelters.
bravo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO GET HELP FROM SHELTERS ETC, TO SAVE MORE ANIMALS LIVES, THIS IS A DISGRACE TO ALL ANIMAL LOVERS, YOU NEED TO WORK WITH WHO EVER CAN HELP SAVE MORE ANIMALS AND PLACE THEM IN HOMES INSTEAD OF KILLING THEM, GOD SPELL IT BACKWARDS IS DOG, GOD PUT ANIMALS HERE TO BE OUR COMPANIONS, YOU NEED TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION BECAUSE
WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO GET HELP FROM SHELTERS ETC, TO SAVE MORE ANIMALS LIVES, THIS IS A DISGRACE TO ALL ANIMAL LOVERS, YOU NEED TO WORK WITH WHO EVER CAN HELP SAVE MORE ANIMALS AND PLACE THEM IN HOMES INSTEAD OF KILLING THEM, GOD SPELL IT BACKWARDS IS DOG, GOD PUT ANIMALS HERE TO BE OUR COMPANIONS, YOU NEED TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION BECAUSE GOD IS WATCHING…………………
ADMIRABLE!! NECESSARY!! LONG OVERDUE!!
Good Luck to you my friend, I will post your column wherever and whenever possible. This is what ALL STATES should be doing, and New York is a fine place to start.
Thank you for all you do for animals,
AnimalActionUSA
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Way to go, Micah! Finally, a legislator who gets it…. one who is compassionate, dedicated, and a true advocate for the defenseless animals killed every day in our NY municipal shelters. You restore my faith in politicians.
Heartfelt thanks for standing up for those who can’t.
Cathy LaSusa
Thank you for your effort in saving this voiceless and helpless animals.
Rock On Micah!!!!!!
This is wonderful. You have a lot of support on this. Thank You for caring.
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It is my belief that all the furry animals that were created by God are not to be treated so inhumanely by us humans with hearts.
Please I beg of you give them the chance to survive with love and care by those who love them.
Thank you with all my heart!
It is my belief that all the furry animals that were created by God are not to be treated so inhumanely us us humans with hearts.
Please I beg of you…give them a chance to survive with love and care by those who truly love them.
May we someday realize these animals were put here for us to shelter and care for, not abuse and negligently kill whenever they are inconvenient. The NKN movement is one which we can all share accountability for. Spay and neuter, do not adopt a dog or cat unless willing to take its life as seriously as your on child’s, and do not abuse, cruelly treat, or neglect them as they are 100% dependent on their owners and caretakers. Do not give up this fight for animal rights, for the animals do not know how to ask for the change they so desperately need themselves!
Thank you,
Denelle Ergh
I second Cath’y comments from 5/28:
Finally, a legislator who gets it…. one who is compassionate, dedicated, and a true advocate for the defenseless animals killed every day in our NY municipal shelters. You restore my faith in politicians.
Heartfelt thanks for standing up for those who can’t.
i can not believe that the most powerful country in the world would be so barbaric to be gassing animals in this day and age….get sponsored neutering campaigns surely would stop these horrors.and better laws brought i to vile breeders and puppy farms .these are why this countrys over crowded by strays …please help stop this