Suffolk Notebook: Cooper Pulls Puppy Mill Bill, Guldi Pleads Guilty

After a public hearing in mid-June that consisted of nearly three hours of comments both for and against the proposal, Leg. Jon Cooper, D-Llyod Harbor, pulled a bill on July 28 that would've banned the retail sale of puppies in Suffolk County.

The bill would have preempted state law, which, according to Article 35D of the New York State General Business Law, "supersede(s) any local law, rule, regulation or ordinance regulating or licensing pet dealers."

Concerns about the legality of Cooper's original bill were raised at the June public hearing.

"This proposal appears to be an illegal restraint of trade," said Joan Bernstein, a cat breeder from Moriches. "It may interfere with interstate trade and violate state law – which makes the regulation of the sale of dogs and cats a matter of state law. This specifically preempts local laws such as this proposal, which brings up the issue of Suffolk County being sued."

Instead, Cooper will propose enacting a rating system for pet stores and the dog breeders that supply them. The rating system would be voluntary rather than mandatory — otherwise it would violate state law — and be similar to the one-to-five star systems restaurants use.

“What I really like about the new idea is that it’s not going to put anyone out of business, and it’s not going to cost the taxpayers money,” Cooper said. “It'll be a way to steer business to pet stores that are reputable, and steer consumers away from those that aren't.”

Former Suffolk Legislator, George Guldi, Pleads Guilty

Former Suffolk County Legislator George Guldi, of Westhampton Beach, pleaded guilty on Friday to 34 charges of grand larceny and one charge of scheme to defraud.

After being sentenced in March to four to 12 years in prison for insurance fraud and grand larceny, Guldi pleaded on July 29 to take a lighter sentence of one to three years. The latest charges will run concurrently with his existing sentence, meaning they won't be added on to one another.

District Attorney Thomas Spota was hoping for a stricter sentence – eight and one-third to 25 years on top of his current sentence – for Guldi, who was involved in a  multimillion-dollar mortgage stacking scheme  that involved nearly 60 Southampton homes and commercial properties.

"Over our objection the judge has promised the defendant a sentence that's completely inadequate to punish him and deter the massive mortgage fraud that's so severely impacted our local economy," Spota said.

Looking for puppies for sale? Consider these tips ...

Article by Oliver Feakins

So you want to buy a puppy? There are many things to consider BEFORE purchasing a puppy. When you are ready to purchase a puppy for sale it’s a good feeling to know what for questions to ask and what to look for before choosing that perfect pup.When searching online or checking out your local classifieds Puppies for sale, write down a few questions for the breeder.

* How long have you been a breeder and how long have you’ve been raising this certain breed.

* How old are the parents of these pups?

* Have the parents been health tested for hips/heart/elbows/eyes etc.?

* Where are the puppies being raised?

* Are the puppies socialized by children?

* Can I come visit the puppies and the parents?

* What kind of health guarantee do you offer?

* What for puppy foods are you feeding or what kind do you recommend? Research the dog food.

* Ask for references, like their vet or a previous buyer.

* If the pup is a purebred where is it registered? Research the registry.When visiting the puppies, be aware of the surroundings,

* Are the puppies clean and do they smell good?

* Do they look healthy?

* There should be no watery or green dischage from the eyes.

* They should have clean ears, soft fur, and be free of dirt.

* No feces on the rump area.

* Ask to see where they are being raised if possible.

* Is the area free of dust, feces etc.?

* VERY IMPORTANT! Is there a certain place for the puppies to go potty away from the sleeping area? If not ask where they do their business, if they take them to a potty area every couple hours its great! But if they do their business where they sleep, these puppies will be hard to crate train and house break.Are you planning on purchasing a puppy from a pet shop or dealer and not from a reputable breeder? Don’t forget to ask the seller what their health guarantee is, and here are some things that you should be aware of when purchasing from a dealer/Pet shop.

* The puppy may have come from a large commercial kennel where care and socalization was at a minimum. Not being carefully handled at a young age can cause puppies to have emotional issues.

* The parents may be bad speciman of the breed, or had major flaws.

* In-breeding may have occurred and therefore your puppy may have a higher risk of health issues.

* The pup may have lived in a small area where it had to live in its feces and therefore you might have a harder time crate traing and house breaking it and it is more acceptable to parasites.

The Field illustrated, a journal of advanced agriculture, scientific breeding and rural sports

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