While there are no reports of dogs and cats running into the streets woofing and meowing in celebration, Brooklyn animals lovers must be rejoicing that Assemblymember Jo Lentol (D-Greenpoint, Williamburg) is calling for human’s furry friends to get a stay of execution during COVID19.
Lentol has asked the New York City Animal Care Centers (ACC) to put an end to euthanizing stray dogs and cats at least until COVID-19’s pandemic has passed. He will also introduce emergency legislation to halt the euthanizing of animals for one year with an immediate effective date.
Lentol’s initiative comes as he has been following New Yorkers’ record outpouring of fostering and adoptions of dogs and cats from animal shelters during New York’s stay at home period, as residents seek animal companionship and have time to care for pets.
“There is no reason to rush to euthanize right now,” said Lentol. “Life has been disrupted and owners may be separated from their animals for many reasons, illness and death included, leading to complications within families and with their pets. At a minimum, we must give animals and families time to reunite. Failing that, we must allow time for an animal to be fostered or adopted.”
Lentol, a proponent of no-kill animal policies, calls upon the ACC to immediately cease putting down dogs and cats after being told about an unfortunate recent case involving the ACC.
The case involved two members of law enforcement who are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic and picked up a friendly and healthy lost Labrador Retriever and cared for it at their station for a few days while seeking its owner. Because the owner may have relocated, gotten sick, or could have been otherwise unable to care for the pet, he or she was not found.
The temporary caregivers then took the Lab to the ACC with specific instructions that, if no one claimed the dog quickly, they would adopt it. Sadly, the dog was euthanized.
“New Yorkers are proving every day that they will work hard to protect all aspects of life. This includes the animal/owner relationship, so often strained now because of emotional stress, financial pressures and food insecurity, or human illness. Let’s give our residents and lost animals needing a forever home the time to find each other. If an owner cannot be identified, let’s use the process of fostering or adoption instead of euthanasia,” said the animal-friendly lawmaker.
Lentol said his legislation will apply to public, private and non-profit animal shelters throughout the state. It will not apply to sick and suffering animals who are put down to end their misery.
