Romaine to Push for Anti-Puppy Mills Law

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine will speak during a Suffolk County Legislature meeting next week in favor of a new "Anti-Puppy Mills" resolution, a proposed local law that would ban the retail sale of puppies in pet stores unless they are from an animal shelter or a Suffolk County breeder. 

“This legislation has been a long time in coming and I look forward to voicing my strong support in front of the County Legislature," said Romaine, who co-sponsored a similar resolution in 2011 as a then-legislator, but at the time state law blocked local governments from enacting their own pet dealer laws. "Recently, new state legislation sponsored by State Senator Ken LaValle was signed into law that has paved the way for Suffolk County to pass the new law. I encourage anyone who is concerned about puppy mills to attend the meeting and speak in support of this new legislation." 

The meeting will be held on March 4 at 9:30 a.m. in the Maxine Postal Legislative Auditorium in the Evans K. Griffing Building, Riverhead County Center located at 300 Center Drive in Riverhead.

The current proposed law is sponsored by legislators Jay Schneiderman and William Spencer. 

The general requirements of the law state:

• No animal shall be offered for sale, trade or give-away by a pet dealer or pet store unless the animal is at least 14 weeks old, is in good health and has been weaned from its mother. 
• Any animal offered for sale, trade or give-away by a pet dealer or pet store shall have daily access to appropriate amounts of clean, fresh water and clean, fresh food. 
• Any pet dealer or pet store offering animals for sale, trade or give-away shall provide to the consumer a copy of the most recent inspection report conducted by the USDA for the breeder and/or broker from which the subject animal came.

The law also outlines enclosure requirements including that it shall house only one animal at a time, be large enough for animal to lie, stretch, walk and engage in natural movements and contain a resting pad. Each enclosure must also be tagged with detailed information about the enclosed animal. Any pet dealer or pet store which violates any provision of this law shall be assessed a civil fine of $500 per violation.

Romaine urged anyone who is interested in a new dog or cat to visit the Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center. There are many adoptable pets and all adoption, spay and neuter fees have been waived until June 30. The shelter is located at 300 Horseblock Road in Brookhaven. 

It is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed Wednesdays), Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please call the Animal Shelter at 631-286-4940 or visit www.brookhaven.org/animalshelter.