Activists, Kaminsky respond to local animal cruelty

It is the understanding of most pet owners that furry friends deserve the same dignity and respect as humans. However, after a recent incident that involved animal abuse, officials and animal welfare organizations are looking for ways to improve animal safety. 

On Oct. 4, Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals members pulled dozens of cats out of an abandoned home in North Bellmore. Approximately 62 cats have been removed from the home on Washington Boulevard, according to Senator Todd Kaminsky. 

Kaminsky, Democratic candidate for Nassau County District Attorney, met with local animal activists at a press conference on Oct. 15 at Bideawee Animal Shelter in Wantagh to discuss how they can ensure greater animal safety in Nassau County following this incident.

“This is an example of a situation that got totally out of control,” Kaminsky said in an interview with the Herald, “and one that really cries out for action. … the DA’s office is looking into it and will decide how to move forward.”

Some of the cats are now suffering from eye and respiratory infections due to toxic ammonia levels throughout the home, transmitted from the cats’ urine, according the executive director of the NY State Animal Protection Federation, Libby Post. The levels of ammonia in the house were so toxic that the Nassau County Fire Marshall had to be called in to ventilate the home before animal control officers could enter, said Post.

“This certainly highlights the fact that there are large cases of animal cruelty happening everyday,” Kaminsky said.

Post, who is also an advisory board member of the Voters for Animal Rights organization, said that the Humane Society of the United States has worked with the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter to move the cats to shelters across the state.

Kaminsky recently co-sponsored the New York Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill, S.1130, which would end the retail sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores across New York State. The bill has passed the Senate twice but has yet to pass the Assembly. The NY State Animal Protection Federation supports the bill.

He said he has laid out plans to expand the Animal Crimes Unit in the District Attorney’s office by implementing more funding and staff.

In addition to sponsoring the bill, Kaminsky said if he had been elected, he would have updated animal cruelty laws to make it easier to prosecute individuals and enterprises that abuse animals, crack down on underground animal cruelty organizations such as dogfighting rings, and keeping a public list of organizations and individuals that have ever been involved in animal cruelty.

“There’s an empirical connection between people who hurt animals and people who hurt people,” he said. “Our pets are our family and we want to protect our community by having far more focus and resources devoted to prosecuting animal offenses.”

Kaminsky also authored NY Senate Bill S7401, which permits authorities who are ordered to report suspected cases of child abuse to also report suspicious cases of animal cruelty.

“I think this will make for more frequent reporting of animal crimes so that they can then be investigated and potentially prosecuted,” Kaminsky said.

Kaminsky said that he plans to take forfeiture funds, or funds seized by the Justice Department from criminal organizations involved in criminal activities, like dog fighting rings, and use them to support animal welfare. He said he will invest those funds in the medical care, boarding, rehabilitation, and re-homing of those seized animals.

Dianne Levitan, a veterinarian at Peace Love Pets Veterinary Care in Commack and an associate professor at Long Island University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, said the best way to prevent animal abuse is through education.

“Providing education on how to properly care for animals, starting with children at a very young age, all the way up through adults, is very important,” Levitan, who is also the founder of nonprofit Helping Promote Animal Welfare, said. “Animal safety is crucial because animals can’t speak for themselves. ... We need to be there to protect animals from abuse, starvation and other harsh conditions.”