Borenstein: “They were starved …”
KINGSTON – Dozens of animal welfare supporters filled the Ulster County legislative chambers Wednesday night, to voice support for two proposed laws at a public hearing.
On the agenda were local laws creating an animal abuse registry and regulating pet sellers. The bills will be voted on next month by legislators.
Both proposals are linked to County Executive Michael Hein’s Comprehensive Animal Abuse Prevention Initiative, which was announced last March, to build upon the success of the county dog park at Kingston Point, and the anti-tethering law, to improve quality of life for residents and pets.
Speakers unanimously favored the abuse registry, modeled after the sex offender registry, to help identify cruel individuals living within the community. Statistics show that animal abusers are often sociopathic sadists who later go on to commit violent crimes against other people.
The regulation of pet sellers is more controversial, with dissenters arguing that the law is too broad and punishes at-home breeders of pedigree dogs.
Brian Shapiro of Woodstock, state director of the Humane Society of the
United States spoke in favor of the local law.
“The Department of Ag and Markets cannot possibly regulate local pet dealers,” Shapiro said. “It’s up to the local municipalities to do so.”
Task Force member Merle Borenstein, co-founder of Have A Heart Animal Welfare Fund, noted a recent raid of a puppy mill in Wappingers Falls, involving 81 Rottweilers.
“They were starved, eating bread and rats, and sometimes each other,” Borenstein said.
Other components of the initiative include an Animal Abuse Advisory Task Force, a feral cat program, and a progressive domestic shelter pet boarding service.
