On Thursday, the New York State Assembly Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing on Assembly Bill 7312, the Companion Animal Access and Rescue Act (CAARA). If passed, CAARA will overhaul New York’s pound and shelter system to save animals’ lives; improve the standard of care for animals in pounds and shelters; and help establish New York as the leader in humane animal care.
Under CAARA, if a rescue group is willing to take an animal who would otherwise be killed, the shelter must release that animal to the rescue group; animals will no longer be killed because the impoundment period is up. This law would implement commonsense, basic protocols to reunite lost animals with their owners and caregivers, such as requiring shelters to scan for microchips. CAARA would also establish an improved standard of care for impounded animals, including requiring a clean living space, appropriate exercise, and fresh food and water daily.
CAARA makes animal pound and shelter operations transparent to the public, requiring them to disclose information about what happens to animals under their care. New York residents will be able to assess for yourself how well your local shelter is doing for the animals.
This is a lifesaving bill for the animals of New York. Help us make these long-overdue humane measures become law.
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