December 1, 2009

The Honorable Micah Kellner
834 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12248

The Honorable Thomas K. Duane
834 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12248

Dear Honorable Kellner and Duane,

On behalf of Friends of Animals’ 30,000 New York members, please
accept our heartfelt thanks for introducing Oreo’s Law in the New York
State Assembly and Senate.

Friends of Animals is a nationwide animal advocacy group
incorporated in New York City in 1957. Friends of Animals fully
supports Oreo’s Law ““ legislation that provides rescue groups with
the means to save otherwise doomed dogs and cats in New York’s
shelters. Without Oreo’s Law, these animals face death after being
denied the opportunity to be sheltered by energetic rescuers who
work with the successful strategies of the No Kill movement.

Passage of Oreo’s Law will save litters of puppies and
kittens, friendly and healthy adult animals and feral cats, along
with once-harmed individuals like Oreo, a dog who needed kindness,
patience and rehabilitation as an approach to overcome the
abuses imposed on him by humans.

Oreo’s Law will help reform a sometimes monied, but
antiquated shelter system that operates as death row. Such
shelters deny animals trapped there with needed rescue options ““
although providing these life-saving measures is our moral
obligation ““ especially after breeding pet animals into existence.
The lives of all sheltered dogs and cats matter to them, and
your work to pass Oreo’s Law will save animal lives in New
York and across the country as other communities join the
much-needed effort.

Sincerely,

Priscilla Feral, President
Friends of Animals