Pets in New York will soon no longer need to fear being tied up for hours. A City Council bill that passed yesterday by a 47-1 vote bans pet owners from restraining animals for longer than three hours over a 12-hour period.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg supports the bill and is expected to sign off on it.
“This is a really good first step,” said Michelle Villagomez, the ASPCA’s senior manager for New York City advocacy.
A separate bill the Council passed 41-7 increased the fees for licensing animals not spayed or neutered. The new fee is $34, from $11.50, with funds directed toward animal control.
“This bill is a win-win,” said Manhattan Council Member Jessica Lappin, who introduced it.
Not everyone agreed. “It’s going to be a hardship on those who might want to own pets,” said Brooklyn’s Council Member Charles Barron.
He was the lone vote against what he called “aggressive fining,” telling Metro, “They’re always coming at the people when they want to make a little more money for the city.”
