By a vote of 61-0 in the State Senate and 149-0 in the State Assembly, the state legislature passed the Companion Animal Care Standards Act for Shelters and Rescues. The bill would raise the standards of care including but not limited to physical space, behavior, transport, record keeping and veterinary care for both shelters and rescues. All organizations caring for homeless companion animals would be licensed as an animal shelter and overseen by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets.