Interlaken passes law to ban puppy mills

The Village of Interlaken is the latest community in upstate New York to ban so-called “puppy mills.”The village board enacted the ban Thursday (April 12, 2012) as part of its overhaul of the village code.The law prohibits the construction or operation of any new commercial pet breeder or large-scale kennel facility and halts the expansion of any existing facilities within the Village of Interlaken.In its findings, the village board stated that dogs rescued from puppy mills often exhibit health and behavioral problems including severe malnutrition and injuries from living an entire life on wire mesh flooring. Thousands of large-scale dog-breeding facilities exist all over the United States, the board noted, and the number of mills appears to be increasing in upstate New York.The law was drafted by local attorney Steven Getman. It was passed following a public hearing in February and a review by the Seneca County Planning Board.A violation of the law is punishable by a fine of up to $500 or imprisonment for up to 15 days. Each day’s continued violation is a separate violation under the law.Several other communities in the area have also instituted limits orbans on “puppy mills,” including the Towns of Romulus, Geneva andSeneca Falls. In March, following public outcry over a proposedfacility, the Town of Gorham passed a moratorium on such facilities.The entire Interlaken Village Code, including the rules against puppymills, is available at the village’s website:http://www.villageofinterlaken.org/