Q&A
DOHMH oversight of pet sales and upcoming regulatory changes
0:52:47
·
144 sec
Council Member Schulman inquires about DOHMH's role in regulating pet sales, including permitted facilities, monitoring of bans on certain animal sales, and plans for enforcing upcoming legislation. DOHMH officials provide information on their current practices and preparations for new regulations.
- DOHMH only permits pet shops, not commercial breeding facilities
- The department has enforced bans on rabbit and guinea pig sales, with good compliance observed
- DOHMH is preparing for the implementation of a new state law banning dog and cat sales in pet shops, effective December 15th
- The department has been communicating with pet shops to ensure compliance with the upcoming changes
Lynn C. Schulman
0:52:47
What are the types of facilities that do HMH permits in terms of selling of pets?
Corinne Schiff
0:52:56
We the health department permits pet shops?
Lynn C. Schulman
0:53:00
I mean, do you do you give permits to any commercial breeding canals or persons who deal in pet animals in settings other than a traditional pet shop?
Corinne Schiff
0:53:10
We do not.
0:53:11
There are state and federal permitting systems.
Lynn C. Schulman
0:53:15
Okay.
0:53:16
Does DO HMH collect and report data on the impact of the bill on the ban of Rabbit and Guinea pig sales?
Corinne Schiff
0:53:27
I'm not aware of a of a reporting requirement.
0:53:31
We have enforced those prohibitions.
0:53:33
We've seen good compliance.
Lynn C. Schulman
0:53:37
So how do you enforce compliance or the effectiveness?
0:53:40
I'm sorry.
Corinne Schiff
0:53:42
How do we how do
Lynn C. Schulman
0:53:44
you how do you monitor the effectiveness in reducing pet overpopulation and improving animal welfare?
Corinne Schiff
0:53:51
So we will conduct inspections both through routine annual inspections and inspections in response to complaints.
0:53:57
If we observe a pet shop selling prohibited animals such as a guinea pig or rabbit or a dog or cat from a source that the council has prohibited, we will issue violations and we can take additional enforcement action if we see ongoing noncompliance.
Lynn C. Schulman
0:54:14
Okay.
0:54:18
What are DOH MH's long term plans for monitoring pet stores after these while this legislation goes into effect, we'll I presume you made comment that there were routine inspections and audits.
Corinne Schiff
0:54:33
So we've been working for many months anticipating the new state law that goes into effect middle of December to make sure that the pet shops that are still selling dogs and cats, although they are selling them from the sources that are that are permitted in New York City, but they will not be allowed to sell dogs and cats at all all after December 15th.
0:54:54
We've been in touch with all of them on an ongoing basis, helping them to be prepared to seize the activity that will become illegal.
0:55:03
We've been communicating with them.
0:55:05
And will begin enforcement of that as soon as that state law becomes effective.
Lynn C. Schulman
0:55:10
Okay.
0:55:11
So, miss Weinstein, now I'm coming now I'm gonna come and concentrate on the ACC centers.