From: Deborah Tanzer Sent: Monday, July 28, 2014 10:08 PM Subject: TERRIBLE NEWS: DOHs Stealth Attack on NYCs Animals PLEASE CROSS POST DE BLASIO HAS BROKEN HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISE, AND NYC ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL CONTINUES TO BE AN UNSPEAKABLE SLAUGHTERHOUSE FOR DOGS AND CATS, RELENTLESSLY KILLING THEM, DAY AFTER DAY. ON TOMORROWS DEATH LIST ALONE , THERE ARE 53 CATS AND LITTLE KITTENS WHO WILL BE DESTROYED. From: Shelter Reform Action Committee Sent: Monday, July 28, 2014 8:14 PM Subject: TERRIBLE NEWS: DOHs Stealth Attack on NYCs Animals SHELTER REFORM ACTION COMMITTEE Everything you always wanted to know about the AC&C but were afraid to ask. NYCS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RESHAPES STATE LAW TO HOLD ABSOLUTE POWER OVER NYC ANIMALS ... (AND PITY THE POOR ANIMALS) Earlier this year a bill was making its final passage through the New York State legislature. The bill would give New York City home rule power to set its own dog licensing fee. That was a positive goal because the State always controlled how much NYC could charge a pet owner to license a dog. The licensing fee was set at the laughably low amount of $8.50. Animal advocates urged Albany to give New York City the right to set its own fee. They pointed out that licensing fees could provide an important revenue stream to support NYCs Animal Care & Control. Before the bill was passed, however, The Humane Society of New York sounded the alarm about a dangerous provision in the bill. The provision specifically names NYCs Department of Health to be in charge of NYCs animal shelters and licensing. We do not support codifying into law DOHs role in animal care. The door should be left open for another agency to be involved in animal care in the future. (HSNY, Memo 5.18.14) Yes, were talking about the very same DOH that for years has repeatedly and utterly failed our Citys animals. For example, since taking over licensing duties from the ASPCA in 1995, the DOH has overseen a disgraceful decrease in dog licensing compliance ... even when the fee was a paltry $8.50. And we all know how the DOH has treated the ACC and its animals over the years. You may ask Whats the big deal? The DOH was already in charge of the ACC and licensing. What difference does is make that State Law now statutorily enshrines the DOH with those powers? It is a big deal .. and terrible news for our Citys animals. Before passage of the bill, State law gave NYC Mayors the power to decide who would be in charge of animal welfare. Unfortunately, NYC Mayors always opted for the DOH despite objections by animal advocates. Ah, but last year Bill de Blasio campaigned on a promise to free the ACC of DOH control. Yes, it had been months since he took office and DOH remained firmly in control of the ACC. But animal advocates continued to hold out hope that Mayor de Blasio would make good on his promise ... using the power granted him under State law. But now the law has been changed and the Mayor no longer has the power to release the ACC from DOH control. This is terrible news for NYCs animals. It is also an insult to animal advocates. The DOH clearly had a hand in drafting the bill. New York State legislators are busy people. They were encouraged to focus only on the home rule licensing aspect of the bill. Apparently no one read the fine print. Thus, while animal advocates were sleeping, the DOH staged a coup to cement its power over NYCs animals. Now our Citys animals are in an even more precarious position than before Mr. de Blasio took office. We asked the ASPCA (which praised the new law) why the bill was drafted to give DOH this statutory power. To date, the ASPCA hasnt responded to our inquiry. This amendment to State law must itself be amended. NYC animals cannot survive any more of the DOHs bureaucratic attention. BRIGHTEN OUR DAY! PLEASE LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. Please forward this message to New Yorkers who believe that NYC can and must do much more for its homeless animals. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quick Links Our Website CHECK OUT THE AC&CS NIGHTLY TO-BE-KILLED LIST POSTED BY URGENT PART 2 For DOGS For CATS WARNING: These lists are not for the fainthearted. But they provide a (partial) window into the animals forsaken by the AC&C. The AC&C wont let you see ALL the animals they kill, but youll get some sense of the extent of the killing. BECOME AN AC&C VOLUNTEER AC&C animals arent responsible for the politics that tie the AC&C to the Citys Department of Health. So, consider becoming an AC&C volunteer, including being an AC&C foster. The animals need your help. WANT TO FOSTER ACC ANIMALS THROUGH BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETYS NEW FOSTER PROGRAM? Click here to learn about applying to be a Best Friends foster. 127 West 83rd Street, # 107 New York, NY 10024 shelterreform.org [email protected] July 28, 2014 Newsletter
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 14:38:26 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015