Hauppauge, NY - May 14th, 2014 - Members of Long Island Orchestrating for Nature (LION) gathered in Hauppauge Tuesday, May 13, 2014 to speak out for puppy mill dogs being imported to Suffolk County pet dealers.

The Suffolk County Puppy Mill Bill, IR 1047-14, spearheaded by Legislator Jay Schneiderman seeks higher regulations for commercial breeders used by Suffolk County pet stores.

Both pet shop owners and animal advocates appeared in support of Schneiderman’s Suffolk County Puppy Mill Bill, stating it would weed out unsavory breeders with the worst USDA violations.

LION President and anthrozoologist John Di Leonardo, 26, and Vice President Julie Cappiello, 23, were in attendance.  

“The support for the Suffolk County Puppy Mill Bill is overwhelming.” Cappiello stated. “With the public so supportive of this effort, even some pet dealers who originally opposed this bill have come forward with their support.”

Di Leonardo stated, “While this bill will not prevent pet dealers from sourcing animals from all mills, it will prevent them from sourcing animals from the worst suppliers.  This is a big step in the right direction and we applaud Legislator Schneiderman for being one of the first legislators in our state to take action regulating these mills.”    

John Di Leonardo and Julie Cappiello received an Advocates We Love Award from the Humane Society of the United States earlier this year for their help in passing New York State’s Puppy Mill Bill, the law that lifted the preemption disallowing municipalities from regulating puppy mills and their dealers, to make Suffolk County’s bill possible.  LION President John Di Leonardo has since been named a District Leader for the Humane Society of the United States on Long Island as well.

Pictured From Left: Brian Shapiro, New York State Director, The Humane Society of the United States; John Di Leonardo, President, Long Island Orchestrating for Nature; Pam Green, Executive Director, Kent Animal Shelter.