What a week!! On Tuesday I went to Assemblyman Kevin Cahill's office in Kingston to talk to his aides, David Lowrie, Kristen Murphy, and Kristen McManus. Ms. McManus came down from Albany for the meeting that was so appreciated. There is a bill in the New York State Assembly (A9780) that would upgrade our present animal cruelty laws. Many of the misdemeanors that cover animals under the Agriculture and Markets laws will be put under the penal laws and will become felonies. The stronger the law, the stiffer the penalty and that just might make a person who is cruel to animals think and stop, instead of just shrug at the law as they do now. Negligence will no longer be an excuse either.

Mr. Cahill is a great assemblyman and if he pushes through this legislation, he will be deemed a hero for life by the animal caring community. The phone number for the assemblyman's office is 845-338-9610.

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On Thursday, I went to the Town of Lloyd court, which is in Highland, to report on a case that was mentioned in my column last week. A man named Pezzo allowed a chain collar to grow into his dog's neck. On a tip by a veterinarian, the Ulster County Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (UCSPCA) was called in. Adam Saunders, a UCSPCA investigator learned that the collar had to be surgically removed and required stitches around three quarters of the dog's neck.

Appearing before Judge Terry B. Elia, Mr. Pezzo was asked if he would like a trial or would he surrender the dog and agree to not own any companion animal for three years. After arguing with the judge that he did nothing wrong, Judge Elia once again asked Mr. Pezzo if he would like to have a trial or give up the dog, who is now with the UCSPCA, and not own any animals for three years. Finally, Pezzo pleaded guilty, gave up his dog and agreed to the rest of the punishment.

I think the UCSPCA is one of the finest investigation and law enforcement departments we have in this state, but I would have charged a large fine as well to Mr. Pezzo. How could anyone own a dog and not pet him every day and see that his collar was too tight. If I had been the judge I would also have made Pezzo wear a choke collar for a few days. The good thing is that finally this dog can go to a new home or stay at the shelter where he will be free of that awful painful condition.

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Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend with your pets and family. Once again, though, know where your pets are, what they are eating and keep them safe when cars are coming and going.