We’re extremely disappointed to report that Assembly Bill 7312the Companion Animal Access and Rescue Act (CAARA), a bill that could have saved the lives of countless animals across your statewas voted down in committee today. Despite the support of compassionate New Yorkers across the state, some members of the Assembly Agriculture Committee still rejected this important overhaul of New York’s shelter system.
CAARA contained many lifesaving provisionsprovisions requiring shelters to transfer any animal that would otherwise be killed to willing rescue groups; improving standards of care for impounded animals; and making shelter operations more transparent to the public by requiring shelters to disclose what happened to animals under their care.
Despite the committee’s disappointing decision, we will continue to fight for humane laws that protect and improve the lives of animals in New York’s pounds and shelters, and everywhere. We applaud the leadership of Assemblymember Micah Kellner for pushing this humane bill forward. Thank you for speaking up to save animals’ lives. We’ll let you know when it’s time to take action again.