N.Y. Agriculture & Markets Law § 401: Minimum standards of animal care

§ 401. Minimum standards of animal care. Pet dealers shall comply with

the following minimum standards of care for every animal in their

custody or possession.

1. Housing. (a) Animals shall be housed in primary enclosures or

cages, which shall be constructed so as to be structurally sound. Such

enclosures shall be maintained in good repair to contain the animal

housed inside and protect it from injury. Surfaces shall have an

impervious surface so as not to permit the absorption of fluids and

which can be thoroughly and repeatedly cleaned and disinfected without

retaining odors.

(b) Primary enclosures or cages housing the animals shall provide

sufficient space to allow each animal adequate freedom of movement to

make normal postural adjustments, including the ability to stand up,

turn around, and lie down with its limbs outstretched. If the flooring

is constructed of metal strands, such strands must either be greater

than one-eighth inch in diameter (nine gauge wire) or shall be coated

with a material such as plastic or fiberglass, and shall be constructed

so as not to allow passage of the animal's feet through any opening in

the floor of the enclosure. Such flooring shall not sag or bend

substantially between structural supports.

(c) Housing facilities shall be adequately ventilated at all times to

provide for the health and well-being of the animal. Ventilation shall

be provided by natural or mechanical means, such as windows, vents,

fans, or air conditioners. Ventilation shall be established to minimize

drafts, odors, and moisture condensation.

(d) The temperature surrounding the animal shall be compatible with

the health and well-being of the animal. Temperature shall be regulated

by heating and cooling to sufficiently protect each animal from extremes

of temperature and shall not be permitted to fall below or rise above

ranges which would pose a health hazard to the animal. This shall

include supplying shade from sunlight by natural or artificial means.

(e) The indoor facilities housing the animals shall be provided with

adequate lighting sufficient to permit routine inspection and cleaning

and be arranged so that each animal is protected from excessive

illumination which poses a health hazard to the animal. Animal areas

must be provided with regular diurnal light cycles of either natural or

artificial light.

(f) The indoor and outdoor facilities housing the animals, including

the primary enclosure or cage, shall be designed to allow for the

efficient elimination of animal waste and water in order to keep the

animal dry and prevent the animal from coming into contact with these

substances. If drains are used they shall be constructed in a manner to

minimize foul odors and backup of sewage. If a drainage system is used

it shall comply with federal, state, and local laws relating to

pollution control.

(g) In the event that a pet dealer has a pregnant or nursing dog on

his or her premises, the pet dealer shall provide a whelping box for

such dog. Separate and apart from the whelping box, a pet dealer shall

provide a pregnant or nursing dog with a separate space accessible to

her that complies with the standards set forth in paragraph (b) of this

subdivision. Each nursing dog shall be provided with a sufficient amount

of floor space to nurse and care for her litter.

(h) Pet dealers shall designate and provide an isolation area for

animals that exhibit symptoms of contagious disease or illness. The

location of such designated area must be such as to prevent or reduce

the spread of disease to healthy animals and must otherwise meet all

housing requirements of this section.

2. Sanitation. Housing facilities, including primary enclosures and

cages, shall be kept in a clean condition in order to maintain a healthy

environment for the animal. This shall include removing and destroying

any agents injurious to the health of the animal and periodic cleanings.

Primary enclosures must be cleaned daily and sanitized at least once

every two weeks by washing all soiled surfaces with appropriate

detergent solutions and disinfectant or by using a combination detergent

or disinfectant product that accomplishes the same purpose with a

thorough cleaning of the surfaces to remove excreta, feces, hair, dirt,

debris and food waste to permit effective sanitization, followed by a

clean water rinse. The primary enclosure or cage shall be constructed so

as to eliminate excess water, excretions, and waste material. Under no

circumstances shall the animal remain inside the primary enclosure or

cage while it is being cleaned with sterilizing agents or agents toxic

to animals or cleaned in a manner likely to threaten the health and

safety of the animal. Trash and waste products on the premises shall be

properly contained and disposed of so as to minimize the risks of

disease, contamination, and vermin.

3. Feeding and watering. (a) Animals shall be provided with wholesome

and palatable food, free from contamination and of nutritional value

sufficient to maintain each animal in good health.

(b) Animals shall be adequately fed at intervals not to exceed twelve

hours or at least twice in any twenty-four hour period in quantities

appropriate for the animal species and age, unless determined otherwise

by and under the direction of a duly licensed veterinarian.

(c) Sanitary food receptacles shall be provided in sufficient number,

of adequate size, and so located as to enable each animal in the primary

enclosure or cage to be supplied with an adequate amount of food.

(d) Animals shall be provided with regular access to clean, fresh

water, supplied in a sanitary manner sufficient for its needs, except

when there are instructions from a duly licensed veterinarian to

withhold water for medical reasons.

4. Handling. Each animal shall be handled in a humane manner so as not

to cause the animal physical injury or harm.

5. Veterinary care. (a) Any pet dealer duly licensed pursuant to this

article shall designate an attending veterinarian, who shall provide

veterinary care to the dealer's animals which shall include a written

program of veterinary care and regular visits to the pet dealer's

premises. Such program of veterinary care shall include:

(i) The availability of appropriate facilities, personnel, equipment,

and services to comply with the provisions of this article;

(ii) The use of methods determined to be appropriate by the attending

veterinarian to prevent, control, and respond to diseases and injuries,

and the availability of emergency, weekend, and holiday care;

(iii) Daily observation of all animals to assess their health and

well-being; provided, however, that daily observation of animals may be

accomplished by someone other than the attending veterinarian who has

received the guidance identified in subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph;

and provided, further, that a mechanism of direct and frequent

communication is required so that timely and accurate information on

problems of animal health, behavior, and well-being is conveyed to the

attending veterinarian;

(iv) Adequate guidance to personnel involved in the care and use of

animals regarding handling and immobilization;

(v) Pre-procedural and post-procedural care in accordance with

established veterinary medical and nursing procedures; and

(vi) In the case of dealers who sell or offer to sell twenty-five or

more dogs or cats per year to the public for profit that are born and

raised on the dealer's residential premises, annual veterinary

examinations, at a minimum, for all intact adult dogs or cats on such

dealer's premises.

(b) All animals shall be inoculated as required by state or local law.

Veterinary care appropriate to the species shall be provided without

undue delay when necessary. Each animal shall be observed each day by

the pet dealer or by a person working under the pet dealer's

supervision.

(c) Within five business days of receipt, but prior to sale of any dog

or cat, the pet dealer shall have a duly licensed veterinarian conduct

an examination and tests appropriate to the age and breed to determine

if the animal has any medical conditions apparent at the time of the

examination that adversely affect the health of the animal. For animals

eighteen months of age or older, such examination shall include a

diagnosis of any congenital conditions that adversely affect the health

of the animal. Any animal diagnosed with a contagious disease shall be

treated and caged separately from healthy animals.

(d) If an animal suffers from a congenital or hereditary condition,

disease, or illness which, in the professional opinion of the pet

dealer's veterinarian, requires euthanasia, the veterinarian shall

humanely euthanize such animal without undue delay.

(e) In the event an animal is returned to a pet dealer due to a

congenital or hereditary condition, illness, or disease requiring

veterinary care, the pet dealer shall, without undue delay, provide the

animal with proper veterinary care.

6. Humane euthanasia. Humane euthanasia of an animal shall be carried

out in accordance with section three hundred seventy-four of this

chapter.

7. Exercise requirements. Pet dealers shall develop, maintain,

document, and implement an appropriate plan to provide dogs with the

opportunity for daily exercise. In developing such plan, consideration

should be given to providing positive physical contact with humans that

encourages exercise through play or other similar activities. Such plan

shall be approved by the attending veterinarian, and must be made

available to the department upon request.

8. Grooming. All animals shall be groomed regularly to prevent

excessive matting of fur, overgrown toenails and flea and tick

infestation.