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Volume 214, No. 33
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Ticks Causing Concern in our Region, page A8
VISIT www.
AllOTSEGO.com, OTSEGO COUNTY’S DAILY NEWSPAPER/ONLINE
Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, August 18, 2022
Newsstand Price $1
Sheriff: Renaming Inmates Is Not a Priority
Otsego County Jail needs major repairs
INSIDE ► Bassett healthcare network responds to letter to editor, page A2
This Is NOT OK, Helping the Next Page of a Dog’s Life
► update on rescued eagle, page A3 ► A FEW THOUGHTS ON IMPORTANT THINGS: Our columnists this week look at saving dogs, new COVID recommendations, former Senator Seward looking toward a positive future, why so many helicopters lately, zebra mussels, thanking Bassett for great care, Star Route Farm, changing populations and being a bad owner to a Cavapoo, pages 4,5, and 6.
► Ticks are a real problem in our area, page A8 ► Otsego lake association update, page A9 ► Fenimore chamber orchestra huge asset, page A10 Follow Breaking News On
AllOTSEGO.com
According to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, New York state law will no longer refer to prisoners as “inmates” and will instead call them “incarcerated individuals”. Governor Hochul signed the legislation on Monday. She argues that removing the term “inmate” will help to reduce harmful stigma against incarcerated people by correcting outdated terminology. “In New York, we’re doing everything in our power to show that justice and safety can go hand-in-hand,” Hochul said. “We can make our streets and communities safer by giving justice-involved individuals the chance to complete their rehabilitation program and work at the same time. By treating all New Yorkers with dignity and respect, we can improve public safety while ensuring they have a fair shot at a second chance,” she added. When asking Sheriff Devlin about renaming “inmates”, he said he wasn’t concerned. “It seems like we have a lot of other issues we should be dealing with right now rather than renaming “inmates” What we call them doesn’t seem relevant; we have crime issues now that need to be addressed,” Sheriff Devlin said. “We need to focus our energy on the issues that will make a difference here in our county. The rise in crime right now is what is important, and our availability to respond. “We don’t have enough manpower and staffing and we are down 20 positions in the jail. The criminal population still comes in and we are having to board the inmates out. Continued on page 2
“As I speak to you, I’m on my way to Buffalo to pick up dogs that need to be rescued,” Stacie Haynes, Executive Director of the Susquehanna SPCA said. “The puppy mill pipeline bill has been around for a while; we are really fortunate the Assembly and Senate both back the bill. It seems like a no brainer but there are lots of politics and other things involved,” Ms. Haynes said. “We are hoping to apply some extra pressure now by having a press conference at the shelter soon. Libby Post is the executive director of the New York State Animal Protection Federation and she was instrumental in getting this legislation passed in the assembly. We will also hopefully have Senator Oberacker here, they have all supported the bill. We are so grateful to them.”
These dogs need to be saved. Puppy mills “We’ve gotten some pushback lately from sell their dogs to pet stores, and thankfully our breeders. Some of these people we are talking region has very few. about don’t treat their animals like living, “The puppy mill owners breed the dogs until breathing things. We also have a lot of breeders they can’t be bred anymore. Then they get rid here who are wonderful to their dogs. That’s of them in a number great, but other people of ways that I don’t who are breeding dogs Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill want to talk about. and have no regard with The law would make it illegal for pet They can’t make any no compassion is just retailers to sell dogs, cats and rabbits. more money so they not acceptable,” Ms. These commercially bred pet store animals dispose of them,” Ms. Haynes said. are shipped to New York from out-ofHaynes said. Treat your animals state “mills” that subject animals to abuse “We work with decently. The dogs they including overcrowding, overbreeding, lack an organization in are getting right now are of veterinary care and socialization. Buffalo that picks called “retired puppy up these dogs at a mill dogs”. “Some have moment’s notice,” she said. “Then, shelters never been outside of a confined cage with a like ours pick them up and try to get them wired bottom. They’ve lived a horrible life. It adopted.” takes time to acclimate these dogs to people In Otsego County, there is a diverse group of and the outdoors. It’s sad but rewarding,” she people that run puppy mills, most are in it for said. the money. “We get mad when we rescue these poor “Good breeders have to register with the dogs, but we look at it as the next part of the state and get inspected by the New York State dog’s life. It’s nice to see the transformation. Department of Agriculture. Until the Puppy We keep in touch with the people who adopt Bill Pipeline Bill is passed, the threshold that them to make sure it’s all good.” breeders can sell is 25 dogs. If you are a breeder “I try to tell people we aren’t only going in and don’t sell more than 25 dogs, you don’t and rescuing these dogs that would get thrown have to register with the state,” she said. away, but we are working on legislation to try How does the inspection work if you want to to get to the root of the problem. “We have an be a breeder? obligation as the SPCA to make sure that people “The Department of Agriculture visits and are aware of where their animals are coming makes sure the kennels are clean, they make from. Stay away from people saying they will sure no feces are around, and they make sure fly a dog in for you. Go to our website to look animals have vaccine records, no diseases, and at questions to ask if you want a specific dog. are treated humanely,” Ms. Haynes said. Continued on page 2
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST PRINT CIRCULATION 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD