Throwing Rescue Dogs a Bone
April 21, 2011
Speaking on Capital Tonight about my legislation
Right now, there are over 12,000 dogs in New York City shelters waiting to be adopted. These animals are unconditionally loving and loyal pets that are just looking for a second chance to become beloved members of a family. I think it’s time that we threw these dogs a bone.
Today I held a press conference with animal advocates and some wonderful rescue dogs that need homes to announce my legislation that would designate the ‘rescue dog’—any dog that has been rescued and adopted from a shelter or rescue group—to be the Official State Dog of New York. By giving these dogs this honor, millions of New Yorkers will be sent the message that in order to find a devoted companion animal, you don’t need to go any further than your local animal shelter or rescue group.
My bill will serve as an important educational tool by generating awareness about the value of adopting rescued animals along with other important information for prospective pet owners like spaying and neutering pets, providing them with microchip identification implants, and providing responsible pet care.
According to a survey done in 2009 by the Humane Society of the United States, approximately 17 million Americans consider getting a pet every year. If only 20% of these people adopt a rescued pet, we could essentially end the killing of healthy and treatable animals in shelters. This could save tens of thousands of animals in New York alone.
Unfortunately, some people perceive rescue animals as damaged, but nothing could be further from the truth. Most of these dogs are healthy, well-behaved, and just in need of a loving home. So if you’re a prospective pet owner, make the right choice and consider checking with a shelter or rescue group first. If you have any questions or need to be directed to a shelter, please contact my office at (212) 860-4906.
Defending the Rights of Animal Care & Control Volunteers
September 1, 2010
Animal Care and Control of New York City (ACC) is the organization responsible for operating our city’s animal shelters. Many dedicated New Yorkers serve as volunteers at ACC facilities, giving their time to help care for homeless and neglected animals. Unfortunately, there have been reports from some volunteers of substandard conditions at ACC shelters, including allegations of animals wallowing in their own waste, cats and kittens going without food and water for extended periods of time, dogs not being properly socialized, ongoing killing of healthy animals, and failure to treat medical conditions.
I was deeply disturbed to learn that ACC has now instituted new volunteer policies apparently intended to silence such complaints. The new policies state, among other things, that volunteers may not “publicly criticiz[e]” or cast the agency “in a negative light.” These policies violate volunteers’ constitutional rights, and are clearly inconsistent with court decisions protecting whistleblowers and establishing that the opportunity to serve as a volunteer is a protected government privilege.
I am calling upon Mayor Bloomberg and New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley, who effectively control ACC, to have this policy repealed immediately. I have also asked City Comptroller John Liu to meet with me to discuss what steps can be taken to provide additional oversight of ACC, to ensure that volunteers are being treated fairly and that allegations of substandard conditions at ACC shelters are handled properly.
Copies of my letters to Mayor Bloomberg, Dr. Farley, and Comptroller Liu are below.
Letter to Mayor Bloomberg re: Animal Care & Control
Letter to Comptroller Liu re: Animal Care & Control
The Drumbeat For Oreo’s Law Grows Louder
January 26, 2010
The tragic case of Oreo, an abused dog who was euthanized despite her rescue by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (APSCA), brought to light a tragic loophole in our animal protection laws. Oreo survived a fall from a six-story building, but was put down after being found to have untreatable aggression, despite the fact that a rescue group wanted to adopt her for rehabilitation. In response, I introduced Oreo’s Law (A.9449/S.6412) with New York State Senator Tom Duane to close that loophole.
My bill, modeled on an existing law in California, allows animal welfare organizations the right to request animals be given to their care when a shelter is planning to euthanize them.
Today, the San Francisco Chronicle published an article, “Do animals need laws protecting them from shelters?” lauding my bill and furthering the drumbeat for a law to protect dogs like Oreo, saying “all over New York, indeed, all over the United States, there are shelters right now killing dogs and cats who could be saved if only they’d let qualified local rescue groups and foster volunteers take animals out of their facilities.”
As a dog owner and a foster parent for an animal rescue group myself, I was heartbroken to learn that Oreo was euthanized. When humane organizations volunteer their expertise in difficult cases, shelters should work with them to the fullest extent possible. This legislation will give tragically abused animals like Oreo another chance at life.
“Oreo’s Law” Would Give Dogs a Second Chance at Life
November 18, 2009
The kennel at Pets Alive Animal Sanctuary, where Oreo would have been rehabilitated.
The case of Oreo, an abused dog who was put down after her rescue by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (APSCA), brought to light a tragic loophole in our animal protection laws. This week, I am introducing legislation to close that loophole and save the lives of thousands of abused and injured animals in New York State.
This new legislation will allow animal welfare organizations the right to request animals be given to their care when a shelter is planning to euthanize them. The bill will be sponsored in the State Senate by Senator Tom Duane.
The bill, modeled on an existing law in California, is named Oreo’s Law in memory of the pit bull mix who became well-known after she survived abuse at the hands of her former owner, including a fall from a six-story building, but was eventually euthanized after the ASPCA determined that she was untreatably aggressive. Pets Alive Animal Sanctuary, a no-kill animal shelter located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, specializing in the rehabilitation and care of abused animals, offered to take Oreo, but the ASPCA refused the request.
As a dog owner and a foster parent for an animal rescue group, I was heartbroken to learn that Oreo was euthanized. When humane organizations volunteer their expertise in difficult cases, shelters should work with them to the fullest extent possible. This legislation will give tragically abused animals like Oreo another chance at life.
Please click here to download the press release announcing this legislation.
Halloween Howl at Carl Schurz Park
October 26, 2009
I had a wonderful time MC’ing the small dog contestants in this year’s Halloween Howl, a fabulous tradition that I look forward to — and which grows bigger and better — each year. The event benefits the Carl Schurz Park Conservancy. The ASPCA showcased a number of dogs in need of adoption at the event. If you are interested in opening your home to a new member of the family, consider adoption, visit the ASPCA of NYC at 424 East 92nd Street.
Keeping Our Dog Runs Safe
July 31, 2009
In a city where most residents lack backyards, dog owners rely on dog runs to exercise their pets. This is especially true on the Upper East Side, where Community Board 8 boasts more licensed dogs then any other neighborhood in the City. Dog runs are an oasis—they allow dogs to work off their energy and socialize while the owners become part of a tight knit community.
The Upper East Side has access to four runs, two at Carl Schurz Park and two at the East 63rd Street Esplanade. My dog, Nina, and I visit the large dog run in Carl Schurz Park at least twice a day, so I understand that it is not only important to have access to a dog run, but to ensure that the environment is safe, clean, and appropriately landscaped.
Recently, neighborhood dog owners have voiced their concerns about the surfacing at the new large dog run at the East 63rd Street Esplanade. I have heard reports that the newly installed soft surfacing has drainage problems, and that there is an excess of dirt and dust.
In response to this, I have reached out to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and they have assured me that Parks Department staff will soon begin the process of removing the problem surfacing to better assess the drainage issues and make necessary alternations that address the myriad of problems. The surface will then be reinstalled, and similar to the surfacing at Tompkins Square Park, it will be packed every three inches during installation to prevent any material from becoming loose and sandy.
This is a step in the right direction, and I am pleased that the Parks Department has been responsive to these community concerns.
I will continue to work on behalf of dog owners to ensure that our voices are heard and that all of our beloved pets are safe at our dog runs.
- Via @MicahKellner + @MMViverito NYPD, never sensitive to Trans NYers, but if these allegations true its beyond the pale http://t.co/UGWWI9Tn
11 hours ago from ÜberSocial for BlackBerry
