[Adopted 11-22-2011 by Res. No. 894-2011; amended in its entirety 3-4-2014 by Res. No.
113-2014]
The Animal Protection Rating Program is hereby established under
which any pet store located in Suffolk County that sells animals or
any pet groomer that operates in Suffolk County can voluntarily provide
information about its business and practices, with supporting documentation,
to the Suffolk County Animal Protection Rating Board.
This program will rate stores and pet groomers to reflect the
quality of care provided to animals by the pet store or pet groomer
as well as sourcing breeders.
A.
A Suffolk County Pet Store Rating Criteria Committee ("Criteria Committee") is hereby established to set the criteria to be used in rating participating pet stores in the Puppy and Dog Protection Rating Program and develop the pet store application form and the rating form to be used by the Pet Store Rating Board established herein.
B.
The Criteria Committee shall consist of the following five members:
(1)
The Commissioner of the Department of Consumer Affairs, or his or
her designee, who shall serve as Chair of the Committee;
(2)
A representative from the American Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals;
(3)
A representative from a Long-Island-based animal welfare organization,
to be selected by the County Legislature;
(4)
A representative from the American Kennel Club, or designee; and
(5)
A representative from the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, or
designee.
C.
The Committee shall hold its first meeting no later than 30 days
after the oaths of office of all members have been filed, which meeting
shall be convened for the purpose of organization and the appointment
of a Vice-Chairperson and a Secretary.
D.
The members of said Committee shall serve without compensation and
shall serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing authorities.
E.
No member of said Committee shall have a financial relationship with
any pet store in the County of Suffolk.
F.
Three members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the
purpose of transacting the business of the Committee.
G.
The Committee shall consider the factors set forth in Exhibit A of
this article[1] when establishing the criteria for the Pet Store Rating Program; however, the Committee shall not be required to incorporate any or all of the considerations from Exhibit A into the finalized criteria.
[1]
Editor's Note: Exhibit A is included as an attachment to this chapter.
H.
The Committee shall submit a written report of its proposed criteria
to each member of the County Legislature and the County Executive
no later than 90 days subsequent to the effective date of this article
for consideration, review, and appropriate action, if necessary, by
the entire County Legislature.
I.
The Committee shall expire, and the terms of office of its members
terminate, as of January 31, 2012, at which time the Committee shall
deposit all the records of its proceedings with the Clerk of the Legislature.
A.
A Suffolk County Animal Protection Rating Board is hereby established
to analyze and verify information provided by participating pet stores
and pet groomers and to rate each pet store or groomer based on their
adherence to local, state and federal laws, regulations and humane
standards on the care and treatment of animals in their store, at
the breeders they purchase animals from or while grooming animals.
B.
The Suffolk County Animal Protection Rating Board shall consist of
the following five members:
(1)
The Commissioner of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer
Affairs, or his or her designee;
(2)
A representative from the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals;
(3)
A representative of a Long-island-based animal welfare organization,
to be selected by the County Legislature;
(4)
A veterinarian practicing in the County of Suffolk, to be appointed
by the Presiding Officer of the County Legislature; and
(5)
A representative of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, or designee.
C.
The Chairperson of the Board shall be selected by a majority of the
membership of said Board.
D.
The Board shall hold its first meeting no later than 30 days after
the oaths of office of all members have been filed, which meeting
shall be convened for the purpose of organization and the appointment
of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and a Secretary.
E.
The members of said Board shall serve without compensation and shall
serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing authorities.
F.
No member of said Board shall have a financial relationship with
any pet store, pet groomer or offer pets or pet products for retail
sale in the County of Suffolk; and be it further.
G.
Three members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the purpose
of transacting the business of the Board.
H.
The Board shall review rating applications, perform site visits of
pet stores and pet groomers and establish ratings for individual pet
stores and pet groomers based upon the criteria set by the Criteria
Committee for pet stores, which encompass local, state and federal
regulations and humane standards on the breeding, transportation and
sale of puppies and dogs, the criteria set for pet groomers in Exhibit
B,[1] as well as their care and treatment from birth through
sale, for the purpose of evaluating pet stores and pet groomers that
seek a rating.
[1]
Editor's Note: Exhibit B is included as an attachment to this chapter.
A.
Pet stores and pet groomers operating in Suffolk County shall be
eligible to voluntarily submit information regarding their businesses
and business practices on an annual basis to the Board and receive
a rating on a scale to be established by the Suffolk County Animal
Protection Rating Criteria Committee for pet stores, which compares
said practices with local, state and federal regulations, humane standards,
and considerations established herein and the criteria set forth in
Exhibit B for pet groomers.
B.
The Board shall provide a brief explanation of the reason a pet store
or pet groomer has received the rating selected.
C.
The Suffolk County Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs
shall post a list of all pet stores in Suffolk County that sell animals
and shall include the rating for each participating pet store or a
statement that a non-participating pet store has chosen not to undergo
review under the rating program. The Suffolk County Department of
Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs shall post a list of pet groomers
in Suffolk County and shall include ratings for each participating
groomer, or a statement that a non-participating pet groomer has chosen
not to undergo review under the Rating Program.
D.
Any pet store owner or operator or pet groomer dissatisfied with
the rating assessed by the Board shall have the right to update the
information provided to the Board and seek a review of its rating
within 30 days of receiving the original rating assessment. No rating
shall be published on the Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer
Affairs website until after the rating has been finalized by the Board.
All pet stores and pet groomers who choose to participate in
this program shall post the rating received from the Board in a prominent
location within the store, as well as on a window in close proximity
to the store's main entrance.
The Board shall investigate any allegations of fraudulent submission
of information by a pet store or pet groomer and may revoke a store's
or groomer's rating for a period of one year if the Board determines
that the pet store or groomer made material misrepresentations in
seeking same.
