PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Nora Marino, Litigation Attorney from Legal Action Network for Animals
7:00:01
·
3 min
Nora Marino, a litigation attorney with 20 years of experience in animal rescue and rights, presented several proposals to address challenges in animal welfare in New York City. She focused on solutions for pet-friendly housing, affordable veterinary care, and controlling animal breeding.
- Suggested tax incentives for landlords who allow pets and for veterinarians offering low-cost services
- Proposed working with the New York State Department of Financial Services to regulate insurance companies to provide dog bite insurance for landlords
- Recommended a temporary moratorium on bringing animals into the city unless they come from rescues
- Highlighted the need for better enforcement of animal cruelty laws and proper training for NYPD officers
Nora Marino
7:00:01
Hi.
7:00:02
Thank you so much for having this hearing and hearing us all today.
7:00:06
My name is Nora Marino.
7:00:07
I'm a litigation attorney for over 20 years.
7:00:10
I've been involved in animal rescue and animal rights, and I'm on the law for 20 years.
7:00:14
And I have a knot for proper called the Legal Action Network for animals.
7:00:21
I don't wanna repeat what's been said today.
7:00:23
They've been very moving stories today by a lot of rescues, and it's unbelievable what these people do.
7:00:28
And I'd like to offer hopefully some ideas for solution Pets in housing, one of the number one reasons animals get surrenders because they're moving to an apartment that doesn't take pets.
7:00:40
We can't force landlord to take pets, landlord to take pets, but we can't offer the city can offer tax incentives.
7:00:47
How about a tax incentive?
7:00:48
You take animals, we'll give you break on your taxes.
7:00:51
Now another issue is that insurance, a lot of landlords don't wanna take dogs, especially the big dogs, which are the number one problem animal to get adopted.
7:00:59
And one of the ACC representatives said, they need insurance.
7:01:04
They don't wanna take these animals because they're afraid of liability.
7:01:06
And that's understandable.
7:01:08
I'm an attorney.
7:01:08
I get that liability.
7:01:10
So I think we need to work with the state, the New York State Department of Financial Services, which regulates and insurance to get some regulations in.
7:01:17
These insurance companies have to provide dog bite insurance to landlords, so landlords can then open their doors for people with animals.
7:01:25
And I know these might seem like big objectives, but what these rescues are doing are bigger.
7:01:32
I mean, what what they're doing every day is bigger, and I'm happy to offer my assistance in any way.
7:01:37
Vet care, another another reason why animals get surrendered and the big problem with Spain new Spain newter.
7:01:44
Same thing.
7:01:44
Can we offer some type of tax incentive for the vets that are out there to offer low cost and no cost veterinary services?
7:01:53
And free Spain neutered.
7:01:54
Can the city interject with that?
7:01:56
Instead of building whole facilities, I think it would be much more cost effective to use the bets that are already there and just give them some tax incentives.
7:02:05
To do free Spain neutered or low Spain neutered low cost spleen neuter.
7:02:11
That's all I'll say about that.
7:02:12
Breathing.
7:02:13
Breathing is really the the root cause here.
7:02:17
We can't clear a clogged sink when the faucets are pouring out water.
7:02:22
We've got do something about the breeding.
7:02:24
There's no good breeding right now.
7:02:26
Maybe a moratorium, maybe a year to just let these rescuers catch their breath.
7:02:32
If we could issue some type of a temporary moratorium, so it's kind of palatable for people.
7:02:38
Where we have no animals can be brought into this city unless they come from a rescue.
7:02:42
I mean, that would maybe just give these people a chance to cast them around you.
7:02:46
So Yeah.
7:02:47
I know.
7:02:48
I'm sorry.
7:02:48
I well, we know.
7:02:50
It's it's The 2 minutes goes quick.
7:02:53
Alright.
7:02:53
And just real quick, I do want to mention that I'm also involved in dog rescue, and there there's really little to no enforcement, and there's no training with our NYPD, with respect to the animal cruelty statute, and I'm just that's really needed.
7:03:08
A lot of times these officers don't even know that it's their responsibility.
7:03:11
They still think it's ACEPCA, which was 10 years ago now.
7:03:14
It's not their fault.
7:03:15
They're not properly trained.
7:03:17
And just real quick, the DOH does nothing about The horses, they do nothing about turtles being illegally sold in the streets.
7:03:25
They do nothing about the health crisis coming from live animal markets.
7:03:29
The DOH should not be responsible for the city's animals because they are failing.