AR-News: NY Senate and House pass exotic animal ban bill

[ISPEAKInc at aol.com]

PLEASE CROSS POST -
 
International Society for the Protection of Exotic Animal Kind and  
Livestock, Inc.
998-C Old Country Road, # 142,   Plainview, NY  11803  516  935-4607
 
_ispeakinc at aol.com_ (mailto:ispeakinc at aol.com) 

 
The NY State Senate and House today passed bill 7616 banning private  
ownership of
exotic animals that can be dangerous.  This includes primates.   Current 
owners are
required to register with the NY State Dept. of Conservation, and will not  
be able to
get any new animals in the future.  The only exception are USDA  exhibitors.  
The
USDA has stated they will review any NY State permit applications very  
carefully.
 
Several years ago I-SPEAK investigated complaints about baby  monkeys kept in
small bird cages and sold by the pet Store PETS. in Bethpage, NY, a sickly  
Spider
Monkey was discovered.  I-SPEAK notified the Local SPCA who said they  would 
become involved if cruelty could be established.
 
I-SPEAK Director Dr. Tatty Hodge, a primate expert, and former  supervisor 
from
NY State Department of Agriculture, Executive Director Marc Jurnove,  and 
I-SPEAK 
President Stephanie Frucht, found it shivering, dehydrated,  with not 
refrigerated
formula being kept under the counter for it. (Which USDA cited  the
store for) 
 
A sales person notified the store owner when Dr. Hodge check with a  
stereoscope
and stated this monkey needed immediate help. The monkey then feebly  grabbed
a hold of I-SPEAK president Stephanie Smith and the sales person and owner 
could not get the monkey to let go of her sweater, holding on with all  four 
legs with
its remaining strength, and starting to nurse on the fabric.
 
The local SPCA and police were notified, but refused to respond, even after  
given 
statements of its condition.  The town of Oysterbay code enforcement  
inspector 
did issue a summons for keeping primates in violation of town  law.  
Unfortunately
the Spider monkey was sold the next day for $ 4,000. and died two days  later.
 
Dr. Hodge also checked a Macaque being kept at BTJ Jungle in Islip, NY  and 
found
the monkey in a small display case she reported suffering from infected  
teeth, no
proper enhancement, filthy cage, and the only food was moldy pizza.   The 
local 
SPCA and police again refused to take action.  The store did take the  monkey 
to
a veterinarian who removed some teeth. USDA cited the  pet store and shortly 
after,
ALF broke into the store and removed her to a place unknown.
 
Stacy Wolf, Esq., director of Legislative  Services for the ASPCA was 
notified and 
was asked to write up a bill to stop the sale of primates under a certain  
age, and
to improve their conditions.  Instead, Ms. Wolf decided to write a  bill up 
to ban
private ownership of numerous exotic animal species in NY.
 
I-SPEAK would request that people contact the Governor and ask that he  sign
the bill when it comes before him.
 
To Write To The Governor:
Governor George E.  Pataki
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224     
518-474-8390   To Email -     _http://www.state.ny.us/governor/_ 
(http://www.state.ny.us/governor/) 
 
Please contact the ASPCA 
_http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=contact_ 
(http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=contact) ,   and let them know 
of the fine, and time consuming work that Ms. Wolf, and the  legislation
department did. 
 
Please contact NY Senator Marcellino's office for sponsoring, supporting  and 
pursing this important bill.
 
Albany Office
Room 812, Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY  12247
(518) 455-2390 
_E-mail  -_ (http://www.senatormarcellino.com/send_email.asp)   
_http://www.senate.state.ny.us/Docs/members/Marcellimail.html_ 
(http://www.senate.state.ny.us/Docs/members/Marcellimail.html) 
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