Res. No. 1540

Resolution calling upon the New York State legislature to pass and Governor to sign A. 1900 and S. 3530, which recognize the linkage between child abuse and animal abuse, and require that both Child Protective Service workers and Humane Law Enforcement officers become mandated reporters of that possibility in instances where there are both children and animals in a home and there is a possibility both are being subjected to cruelty or maltreatment.

Council Members Gonzalez, Brewer, Dickens, Fidler, Foster, Gerson, James, Mark-Viverito, Nelson and Recchia Jr.

Whereas, The recent Administration for Children Services (ACS) advertisements recruiting Child Protective Service (CPS) workers on New York City subways has raised awareness about the functions CPS workers perform; and

Whereas, CPS workers are charged with the responsibility of investigating child abuse and maltreatment reports that are called into the State Central Registry (SCR); and

Whereas, There is less public awareness about the Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) officers of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) who in their work with animals parallel the function of CPS workers; and

Whereas, HLE officers are charged with the responsibility of investigating animal abuse and maltreatment reports that are filed by calling the New York City Police Department or the ASPCA Law Enforcement department; and

Whereas, A. 1900 and S. 3530, which recognize the linkage between child abuse and animal abuse, would require that persons charged with enforcing the law prohibiting cruelty to animals cause a report to be made when, in the performance of their duties, such a person has reasonable cause to believe that abuse or maltreatment of a child has also occurred; and would also provide that a person charged with the responsibility of filing a report of child abuse or maltreatment must, if there is an animal in the home, also file a report of suspected animal abuse or maltreatment; and

Whereas, The underlying premise of these bills is that a person who would abuse an animal is more likely to abuse a child and a person who would abuse a child is more likely to abuse an animal; and

Whereas, Assembly bill A. 1900 and Senate bill S. 3530 are bills that recognize the existing link between animal and child abuse as demonstrated by recent studies and would prevent these cruel acts; and

Whereas, An American Humane Association survey of pet-owning families with substantiated child abuse and neglect cases found that animals were abused in 88 percent of homes where child physical abuse was present; and

Whereas, Congress passed a resolution designating September, 2008 as “National Link Awareness Month” in order to recognize the link between child and animal abuse in homes and the vital need to educate the nation about this link; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York Resolution calling upon the New York State legislature to pass and Governor to sign A. 1900 and S. 3530, which recognize the linkage between child abuse and animal abuse, and require that both Child Protective Service workers and Humane Law Enforcement officers become mandated reporters of that possibility in instances where there are both children and animals in a home and there is a possibility both are being subjected to cruelty or maltreatment.

MBT

LS 5105

7/17/08

11:34AM

2 pages