OVERVIEW

A new law has taken effect on December 15th and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets reminds shelters and rescues of new standards that are required to be met to ensure the health and well-being of the animals in their care. You can find the laws and requirements here. The law, known as Article 26-C, is setting stricter statewide standards for veterinary care, daily socialization, and housing conditions for cats and dogs in shelters and rescues. Supporters say the changes are designed to improve animal welfare and ensure consistent care across the state.

The law will show leniency in the first year as Shelters and rescues are allowed to have one year as an educational year where Department inspectors visits advise them on what actions are needed to make sure the guidelines of Article 26-C are met. In addition, the Department offers a competitive grant program, the Companion Animal Capital Projects Fund, to help make required needed upgrades to facilities. The Department encourages shelters to apply for this funding to also help them meet the requirements of the new law.

Enacted as part of Chapter 683 of the Laws of 2022, AGM Article 26-C became effective on December 15, 2025, and establishes mandatory licensing, enforceable care standards, and regular inspections for both municipal and not-for-profit shelters that house cats and dogs.

IN MY OPINION

Some are saying that this new law, as written, could end up harming the very animals it’s meant to protect. I believe that when it comes to animal welfare, stricter laws are good to maintain their safety. However, in honesty I ask to balance safety with common sense.

Tanya Semchenko, President for the Board of Directors of Oswego County SPCA, talks about her concern of Article 26-C applying only to large, brick-and-mortar shelters and does not consider the needs as is relates to the volunteer/foster based rescues. For her as it specifically relates to the costly upgrades, heavy daily paperwork, mandatory training for volunteers and fosters, and strict limits on how many animals rescues can take in. 

Yet, for me fosters and rescues need a different set of rules than what the massive corporate needs of the shelters. In all fairness most fosters and rescues tend to give their animals more quality time and socialization than that of the shelters. Many are doing fostering and rescues on top of having paying daily jobs.

Now with the new requirements, heavy daily paperwork, training, and building costly upgrades, many fosters, volunteers, and rescues will end up walking away, thereby, leaving shelters to quickly fill up; and then animals are turned away or euthanized due to lack of space. Shelters, rescues, fosters and volunteers are looking at making tough decisions; stay in the game or quit. 

State officials say the law is intended to protect animals, not penalize those that want to help take care of those animals in need. However, until a balance is recognized for all types of care, the safety and welfare for many animals is in question.