As a response to the proposed dog-breeding facility in Gorham and other facilities like it, State Senator Greg Ball, from the Hudson Valley region, is hosting a “Puppy Mill Protest” on Saturday at 2pm at Baily Park in Somers to gather support for his bill to improve the health and quality of life of animals by providing licensed pet dealers with updated standards of care.
“Hundreds of thousands of puppies per year are bred in puppy mills, facilities known for their filthy, overcrowded conditions and the unhealthy animals they produce; and the numbers have only been growing,” said Senator Ball’s Animal Advisory Council Chair, and animal rights advocate, Lisa Giordano. “Senator Ball is committed to stopping the sale and abuse of these animals, protecting the rights of consumers and bringing awareness to this epidemic.”
Under the proposal, any licensed pet dealer must:
- Designate an attending veterinarian to care for the animals at the facility, who will be available, if needed for emergency, weekend and holiday care;
- Comply with a written program of veterinarian care provided by the attending veterinarian;
- Allow regular visits by the attending veterinarian;
- Provide appropriate facilities, personnel, equipment and services for the animals to implement the plan developed by the attending veterinarian;
- Develop a program to prevent, control and respond to diseases and injuries;
- Designate an employee, trained by the attending veterinarian to provide daily observation of all animals to assess their health and well-being;
- Develop, maintain, document and implement an appropriate daily exercise plan approved by the attending veterinarian. This plan will include providing positive physical contact with humans that encourages exercise through play and other similar activities;
- Designate and provide an isolation area for animals that exhibit symptoms of contagious disease or illness in order to prevent or reduce the spread of disease to health animals;
- Vaccinate as required by the state or local law all animals;
- Not sell any animal that has been diagnosed with a congenital condition or contagious disease.
For more information visit the website or contact Krista Gobins: (845) 200-9716.
