LOCAL LAW NO. "D" FOR 2022
A LOCAL LAW OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK IN RELATION TO THE PROMOTION OF FELINE ADOPTION
Introduced: 4/11/22
By Messrs. A. Joyce, Cleary, Ms. Plotsky, Messrs. Feeney, Burgdorf, Mayo, Ricard, Grimm, Miller, Domalewicz, R. Joyce, Peter and Reidy:
BE IT ENACTED by the Albany County Legislature as follows:
Section 1. Title
This local law shall be known as "Lulu's Law: For the Promotion of Feline Adoption."
Section 2. Legislative Intent
The Legislature hereby finds and determines that animal shelters of Albany County have large populations of cats seeking adoption, and that the longer a cat is sheltered in such facilities without being adopted, the greater the chance of disease or illnesses being spread Moreover, there is significant expense related to the sheltering of cats in such facilities.
The Legislature further finds and determines that in December 2018, the State Legislature amended the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law Section 374, which previously required such shelters to retain cats for at least five (5) days before they could be adopted. The amendments to Section 374 allow for adoptions after three (3) days for any cat whose owner cannot be identified by collar, tag, microchip, tattoo or other identifying mark, provided that a local law is adopted to "opt in" to the three (3) day requirement.
Section 3. Feline Adoption or Transfer to a Rescue Organization After Three (3) Days.
The Albany County Legislature hereby establishes that a cat may be placed for adoption or transfer to a rescue organization after three (3) days by a duly incorporated humane society, a duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or any animal shelter maintained by or under contract or agreement with any city, town or village in Albany County. This also provides that said cat can be made available solely for the purposes of adoption or transfer to a rescue organization and released...
Click here for full text