Suffolk County Deputy Presiding Officer Jay Schneiderman and Suffolk County Legis. William Spencer will hold a press conference next Tuesday in Hauppauge with members of various animal advocacy groups and pet store owners to show support for legislation prohibiting the sale of puppy mill dogs in Suffolk County.
A vote on the bill is expected at the County Legislature’s meeting on the same day.
The press conference is to announce that the local law, Introductory Resolution 1047-14, created to regulate pet dealers and pet stores in Suffolk County, will go to a public hearing in front of all 18 Suffolk County legislators for a final vote. The bill was approved unanimously by the Government Operations, Personnel, Housing and Consumer Protection Committee on Wednesday.
Find out what's happening in Southamptonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Sara Davison, executive Director of the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, praised the bill, which will still need to be signed by County Executive Steve Bellone if the legislature approves it.
"What it means once the bill is implemented is that people will be better educated about where the puppies they are buying from the nine Suffolk County pet shops that sell puppy mill puppies come from and how they are bred under deeply inhumane conditions," Davison said.
Find out what's happening in Southamptonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Davison went on to explain the mechanism by which the legislation would be implemented.
“The puppy cages will have cards. Pet stores will only be able to order puppies from dealers without United States Department of Agriculture violations. It will limit the violations breeders eligible to sell puppies make and make it much more difficult to find dealers without one or more recurring indirect violations or to buy from breeders with a direct violation in the last two years.”
If you are considering adding a puppy to your household why not think about adopting one from one of the excellent animal rescue foundations located throughout Suffolk County including:
The Southampton Animal Shelter
Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
