We Rise for Animal Rights’
Protecting vulnerable animals and keeping them safe from abuse.
As an animal rights advocate and a proud pet parent of a Basenji named Scout, earlier this year, my tortoiseshell cat Griz crossed over the rainbow bridge.
I believe in the rights of all living creatures, and that means our animal friends deserve dignity, respect, and legal protection. We must foster a state that defends animals from cruelty and abuse, creates incentives for pet owners, and establishes safe conditions for farm animals.
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Pass Senate Bill S1734, allowing for an income tax credit for up to 50% of the cost of veterinary services with an annual cap of $2,000. This bill would allow dog and cat owners in New York State to claim a state income-tax credit of 50% of their qualified veterinary medical expenses up to $2,000 per year.
Pass Senate Bill S522, exempting drugs and medicines for companion and farm animals from sales and use taxes.
Pass Senate Bill S4940, providing a credit of up to $100 for adopting a “household pet.”
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Pass Senate Bill S6643, making it unlawful for any person to organize, sponsor, conduct, promote, or participate in any contest, competition, tournament, or derby where the objective of such contest or competition is to take wildlife.
Pass Senate Bill S6870, which would recognize and define the full scope of animal sheltering and rescue operations in New York State, and set minimum standards and best practices for animal rescue.
Pass Senate Bill S4840B, which would prohibit the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation from issuing permits or licenses that would authorize wild animals to appear in circuses.
Pass Senate Bill S7260, which would end the certain tax exemptions for the owners of racehorses.
Pass Senate Bill S7284, also known as Johari’s Law, which would prohibit zoos from giving psychoactive drugs to an animal to facilitate procreation.
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Pass Senate Bill S3182, which would regulate the operation of live animal markets in New York City.
A worldwide milk surplus has driven down the price farmers receive, driving dairy farmers toward suicide more than any other agricultural worker. I will advocate redirecting state funding away from subsidies and toward a program for farmers seeking to exit the industry.
It is wrong to subject animals to unnecessary harm, and as a State Senator, I will outlaw cruel animal farming practices such as castration, confinement, and debeaking.
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Animal rescue and shelter organizations are underfunded and provide vitally needed services. New York State must fully fund these facilities.
Developing and funding an Angel Fund Grant would help pet owners struggling to pay to euthanize their pets humanely.
Approximately 20% of New York’s land area, or nearly 7 million acres, is farmland. The State is home to about 33,500 family farms producing some of the world’s best food, helping drive the economy. New York is a major agricultural state, ranking in the top ten in production of 30 Commodities. As State Senator, I would support forming a New York State Department of Animal Protection or an Office of Animal Protection within the Department of Agriculture.