Res. No. 306
Resolution calling upon the New York State Assembly to pass A. 2768, the New York State Senate to introduce and pass similar legislation, and the Governor to sign such legislation into law, amending the social services law in relation to animal abuse reporting.
Council Members Gonzalez and Nelson
Whereas, Child Protective Services (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 with the New York City Police Department or the ASPCA Law Enforcement department; and
Whereas, A. 2768, which recognizes 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, A recent New York Times article entitled "Animal Abuse As Clue to Additional Cruelties," states that, responding to growing evidence that people who abuse animals often go on to attack humans, eight states now have laws that require or authorize child or spousal abuse officers and animal control officers to inform each other when they find something potentially amiss in a home; in this same article the director of legislative affairs for the Animal Legal Defense Fund is quoted as saying, "[w]hat has changed over the past few years is the recognition that animal abuse is often a warning sign for other kinds of violence and neglect"; and
Whereas, The underlying premise of A. 2768 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. 2768 recognizes the existing link between animal and child abuse as demonstrated by recent studies and would prevent these cruel acts from going unnoticed and unaddressed; 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; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Assembly to pass A. 2768, the New York State Senate to introduce and pass similar legislation, and the Governor to sign such legislation into law, amending the social services law in relation to animal abuse reporting.
MBT
LS 58
5/10/10
11:51am
2 pages