LINDENHURST, NY – The Babylon Town Board held a public hearing this week on amending the Town code to adopt a robust law that addresses various concerns with the outdoor restraining of pets.
Bennett Vogel, Vice President of the Half Hollow Hills High School West’s Teen Animal Protectors reached out to the Town on behalf of the school’s club late last year concerned about animals being left outside when conditions are uninhabitable. The group requested legislation be passed by local and state government to help address this concern locally and across New York State.
Animal Shelter Director Chris Elton worked with the Teen Animal Protectors and the Town Attorney to propose a code amendment that will adopt a Suffolk County law that sets outdoor restraining of animals. Among many issues this law addresses, the changes will prohibit the restraining of pets outdoors for longer than 30 minutes during inclement weather, which includes anytime the temperature is below 32 degrees in the winter or above 90 degrees in the summer. “Thanks to the passion and determination of the Teen Animal Protectors, we will soon have updated rules here in the Town of Babylon when it comes to taking proper care of pets,” said Supervisor Rich Schaffer.
The Town Board will vote to adopt this change at its next meeting later this month. The Teen Animal Protectors are now working with state representatives from the senate and assembly to pass a state-wide law that would address this issue.
###