This past session, the Education Fund’s sister organization, the New York State Animal Protection Federation proposed, advocated for and passed the Companion Animal Care Standards for Shelters and Rescues (Paulin 6246/Addabbo S.6870). The bill uses the Association of Shelter Veterinarians guidelines to improve shelter management and care.
It includes, but is not limited to, setting standards for training, record keeping and reporting, physical plant, housing, sanitation, veterinary care, behavior care, euthanasia, transportation and inspection. With the $25M investment the state has made in the physical plants of shelters across NYS with the Companion Animal Capital Fund, the Federation and its members felt it was time to also enhance operational and care standards. Click Here to Read Our Memo. Click here to read the full bill.
For the first time, shelters without municipal contracts and the vast number of rescues in New York State will be overseen by the Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Division of Animal Industry.
CACS Consulting Services
The bill takes effects three years after it is signed. The Federation knew it would take time for the hundreds of shelters and rescues throughout New York State to get prepared to meet these standards. In order to help, the Education Fund wrote two grants and was awarded $146,000 to help 26 organizations across New York State meeting the standards in the first year of the grant cycle. The Weiderhold Foundation has provided $100,000 to help 20 organizations outside of New York City and the New York Community Trust has provided $46,000 to help six groups within the five boroughs of the City.
The Education Fund has launched the Companion Animal Care Standards Act Consulting Services helmed by our veteran animal welfare expert Barbara Carr. Click here to read about these services and to sign up. Given the limited amount of consulting slots, the Education Fund will reach out to all who expressed an interest with an informational interview before making a final determination.
