On Monday or Tuesday, Oreo’s Law (now known as CAARA – Companion Animal Adoption & Rescue Act ) will be voted on by the New York State Assembly Agriculture Committee. But it is not likely to pass without a large showing of community support between now and then. That is because the opposition has been lobbying strongly against the bill once again. We told them last year we would NOT allow this to happen again.
“Where New York goes, SO GOES THE NATION.”
CAARA would:
- End “convenience” killing when there are empty cages and when animals can share kennels or be sent to foster care
- Require pounds to post strays, including photographs and descriptions, on the Internet so their families can search for them online
- Require transparency in operations by requiring shelters to make their statistics public
- Require pounds to scan for microchips, maintain lost/found lists, and match lost with found animals in the shelter
- Require fresh food and water, environmental enrichment, clean living environments, as well as prompt and necessary veterinary care
If CAARA is defeated, thousands upon thousands of cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, rabbits, and other animals will continue to be needlessly killed in NYS shelters every year—animals CAARA has the power to save.
A statewide survey of NYS rescue groups found that over 70% were being turned away because the shelters were hostile to rescue groups, and then those shelters turned around and killed the very animals the rescuers were willing to save. We have experienced this time and time again, right here in Orange County, in our own backyard. Time and again we offer to take in animals that other local shelters are about to kill and they turn us away. THIS HAS TO STOP!
even though Pets Alive offered to give her sanctuary.
Tragically, right doesn’t always defeat might. Sometimes the animals don’t win. Sometimes they continue to get killed despite a readily available lifesaving and rescue alternative. Sometimes a feral kitten who a rescue group is willing to socialize and place in a loving home will instead get injected with poison from a bottle marked “fatal plus” and then dumped in a landfill. Sometimes a puppy who can go to rescue and be guaranteed a home will be killed instead. For their sake, please do not let this be one of those times. This may be the best chance we have as a generation to make a PURPOSEFUL POSITIVE impact for animals! We can change the world here folks – please. Help. This is critical. Time is of the essence. Don’t think about it – take a few moments to send an email or make a call.
Please post on your social media sites and ask your friends to do the same. You can find a sample letter here. (Please modify it into your own words). You can also cut and paste the following e-mails to your letter as well.
mageew@assembly.state.ny.us; amedoreg@assembly.state.ny.us; benedettom@assembly.state.ny.us; blankenbushk@assembly.state.ny.us; bronsonh@assembly.state.ny.us; butlerm@assembly.state.ny.us; crouchc@assembly.state.ny.us; finchg@assembly.state.ny.us; gunthera@assembly.state.ny.us; hawleys@assembly.state.ny.us; liftonb@assembly.state.ny.us; lopezp@assembly.state.ny.us; maisela@assembly.state.ny.us; markeym@assembly.state.ny.us; mcenenyj@assembly.state.ny.us; moyaf@assembly.state.ny.us; reillyr@assembly.state.ny.us; riveraj@assembly.state.ny.us; riverap@assembly.state.ny.us; russella@assembly.state.ny.us; rosenthall@assembly.state.ny.us; avella@nysenate.gov; gallivan@nysenate.gov; shuntley@nysenate.gov; kennedy@nysenate.gov; omara@nysenate.gov; ranz@senate.state.ny.us; ritchie@nysenate.gov; seward@nysenate.gov; valesky@senate.state.ny.us; cyoung@senate.state.ny.us;
Because without you, the animals don’t stand a chance.
This is Oreo. She was killed even though Pets Alive offered her sanctuary.
Don’t let this happen to another animals.
I am writing today to ask that you support the Companion Animal Access and Rescue Act (A.7312-A/S.5363-A) or CAARA. This legislation that will not only level the playing field for animal rescue groups, but it will save the lives of thousands of animals who have been nothing more than victims of circumstance.
CAARA makes sure that qualified non-profit animal welfare groups trying to rescue animals can no longer be turned away by shelters that are going to kill the animal. Right now, New York law only allows for individuals to adopt from shelters, which gives shelters the ability to deny these qualified groups access to these animals.
CAARA goes beyond just giving rescue groups mere access.
For the first time, it sets standards and guidelines for both shelters and rescue groups. It is impossible to guarantee that animals receive the proper care without outlining the responsibilities of those who work directly with them. CAARA ensures that animals are given fresh food and water on a daily basis, exercise and socialization with other animals, clean living environments, and prompt veterinary care. Also, routine inspections of the facility are required, along with keeping records in order to help find these animals a home.
Additionally, CAARA extends whistleblower protections to rescue groups. In the past, rescue groups have been turned away by shelters for speaking out against bad practices, whether it’s for abuse or mismanagement. Every time a group is turned away, it places a burden on taxpayers who have to foot the bill every time an animal is kept or killed in a shelter. It makes no sense to turn away qualified groups who are willing to spend their own resources on finding these animals a loving home. Allowing the current practice to continue sends the message that the government is not concerned with saving taxpayer money or doing the morally responsible thing.
I urge you to vote in support of CAARA in the Agriculture Committee and on the floor of the Assembly.
Thank you for your help,
mageew@assembly.state.ny.us; amedoreg@assembly.state.ny.us; benedettom@assembly.state.ny.us; blankenbushk@assembly.state.ny.us; bronsonh@assembly.state.ny.us; butlerm@assembly.state.ny.us; crouchc@assembly.state.ny.us; finchg@assembly.state.ny.us; gunthera@assembly.state.ny.us; hawleys@assembly.state.ny.us; liftonb@assembly.state.ny.us; lopezp@assembly.state.ny.us; maisela@assembly.state.ny.us; markeym@assembly.state.ny.us; mcenenyj@assembly.state.ny.us; moyaf@assembly.state.ny.us; reillyr@assembly.state.ny.us; riveraj@assembly.state.ny.us; riverap@assembly.state.ny.us; russella@assembly.state.ny.us; rosenthall@assembly.state.ny.us; avella@nysenate.gov; gallivan@nysenate.gov; shuntley@nysenate.gov; kennedy@nysenate.gov; omara@nysenate.gov; ranz@senate.state.ny.us; ritchie@nysenate.gov; seward@nysenate.gov; valesky@senate.state.ny.us; cyoung@senate.state.ny.us;
you need to pass oreo law,,lets be human again instead of hitler and bin ladeb in 21st centuryin the usa ?//????? karma is watching all of us we all ready being punish for all the bad thinks we are doing i saved 1000 of animals in 35 years working at disney for 20 years did not get any sleep but 3 hours night for 20 years now live in the worst state tennessee were animals cruelty is a way of life but eaven here i find good peoples like me but never get any help in this horrific town of dresden 38225 a nazy camp for animals god save the animals please! julie landmichael
pass the oreo law
pass the oreo law please
i love animals, and i dont want to see any more killed. i do think ASPCA does NOT care about people who would like to have these animals as pets, family, and friends. these animals in the hands of ASPCA may or may not know that they are in danger. ASPCA wil one day give all their animals to petsalive and will shut down for good.
please pass the law lets stop the abuse.without animals its really lonely
Very good write-up. I definitely appreciate this website. Thanks!
I severely appreciate your posts. Thank you