Q&A
DOHMH's enforcement of pet shop laws and regulations
0:41:01
·
70 sec
Council Member Schulman inquires about the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's enforcement of New York City's pet shop laws. Commissioner Schiff explains the department's role in permitting and inspecting pet shops, as well as their enforcement actions for non-compliance.
- DOHMH permits pet shops and conducts annual inspections
- Department responds to complaints and issues summons for non-compliance
- Discussion of regulations' effectiveness in preventing sales from puppy mills
Lynn C. Schulman
0:41:01
What let's see.
0:41:03
Sorry.
0:41:04
How does DO HMH currently enforced New York City's Pet Shop LAWES AND WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE IN INSURING COMPLIANCE?
0:41:11
I IS I PRESUME A LOT OF THEM HAVE SHUT DOWN THE PET SHOPS,
Corinne Schiff
0:41:19
BUT SO WE, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PERMITS PET SHOPS.
Gale A. Brewer
0:41:23
Mhmm.
Corinne Schiff
0:41:23
And we conduct annual routine annual inspections, and we also inspect in response to complaints.
0:41:30
Generally, we see good compliance.
0:41:32
But if there are issues where the pet shop is out of compliance, we can we issue a summons subject to a fine, and we can take other enforcement action as well.
Lynn C. Schulman
0:41:40
How effective have the regulations been in preventing the sale of animals from puppy mills?
Corinne Schiff
0:41:46
So I I think the the law that the council enacted was quite effective in preventing the sale of dogs and cats that came from the certain breeders that are set set out.
0:41:59
In that local law, we did a lot of work educating pet shops before the law went into effect.
0:42:04
We saw good compliance, though not a 100% compliance, and so we did take enforcement action when we saw shops out of compliance.