Voters For Animal Rights

We did it! Intro 1018A, groundbreaking legislation to prohibit backyard breeding, has officially passed the New York City Council with a vote of 40-5! A huge thank you to Council Member Justin Brannan for his unwavering leadership in making this happen. We’re honored to partner with him to protect animals and advance their rights. We’re proud to have collaborated with the Council and staff to craft the strongest possible bill — sending a powerful message to end illegal animal sales while providing much-needed relief to shelters and rescues. Special thanks to Speaker Adrienne Adams and Health Chair Lynn Schulman for their vital support in this effort. Swipe through to see how Intro 1018A will help crack down on backyard breeding and make NYC a safer place for animals.

My cat, Waffles, made his debut today in The New York Times! Voters For Animal Rights is proud to be working with Council Member Shaun Abreu on new legislation that would expand paid sick leave to cover care for companion animals.

We are so grateful to Women Funders in Animal Rights for believing in our mission to stop animal cruelty at the source by implementing laws to protect them. 💜 Voters For Animal Rights has seen time and time again that laws created in New York City have a rippling effect throughout the country—and as an all-volunteer organization, we are so grateful to receive these funds to continue our vital work in the animal rights movement! 🙌 Thank you, WFAR!

🚨 NEW YORK ACTION ALERT 🚨 Animal shelters across New York State often find themselves in a challenging situation when they take in animals involved in cruelty cases. There is an urgent need for the creation of the Animal Crimes Fund, a crucial initiative aimed at providing financial support to animal shelters and rescues grappling with the high costs associated with caring for animals involved in cruelty cases. This fund will play a pivotal role in ensuring the well-being of these innocent creatures and aiding shelters in fulfilling their responsibilities during legal proceedings. Please urge your New York State legislators to support the $2.5M Animal Crimes Fund today 👉 https://vfar.org/acf/

Last year, we saw a lot of progress for animals! Here are a few Voters For Animal Rights supporters helped with, whether by donating, calling your legislators, or volunteering with us! 1) Wildlife killing contests are now banned in New York State! Governor Kathy Hochul signed the bill in December 2023 and will take effect in November 2024! This has been a long fight, with the bill being first introduced in 2006 by Assembly Member Deborah Glick. 2) In late 2023, Council Member Justin Brannan introduced the EATS Reso, which opposes the federal EATS Act legislation. The federal bill rolls back protections for farmed animals, but also states rights to pass and implement their own laws for animal welfare—including those for wildlife. 3) Voters For Animal Rights’ legislation, championed by Council Member Ayala, banning the sale of guinea pigs in the five boroughs not only passed NYC Council this year but ALSO took effect just a few months later. This will save countless guinea pigs from being dumped in parks across the city. Boston City Council, thanks to local activists, passed a similar law in December! 4) In March, Council Member Hanif introduced a bill that would ban elephant captivity in New York City. If passed (once re-introduced this session), this legislation would be the first of its kind prohibiting elephant captivity—and it would require any venue in New York City holding elephants captive to send them to a sanctuary. 5) After Flamingo the pink pigeon was rescued, yet ultimately passed away, from being dyed pink and released for entertainment, Council Members Rivera, Schumann, and Abreu introduced legislation that would ban the commercial release of birds like Flamingo at events like weddings, gender reveals, funerals, and more. If this list inspired you, here are two ways you can help animals this year: • Sign up for email alerts from Voters For Animal Rights at vfar.org • Register to vote! The more animal-friendly champions we elect into our legislatures, the better chance we can introduce and pass bills stopping animal cruelty at its source. 💜