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New York Assembly Member Linda B. Rosenthal and state Sen. Luis R. Sepúlveda have introduced groundbreaking legislation that would shut down live-animal markets across the state—a move that would help prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases and spare countless terrified animals a violent death. It's crucial that your representatives hear from you—a constituent—that you support A. 10399/S. 8291 and want them to do the same.
Deadly outbreaks—including COVID-19, SARS, and avian flu—are linked to meat butchery, animals sold for human consumption, and the filth of confinement. Live-animal markets are perfect breeding grounds for diseases that can jump from various other species to humans, since stressed, injured, and sickly animals are commonly caged in public areas—sometimes even on sidewalks—where feces, blood, and offal can contaminate buyers and sellers and be tracked into restaurants or homes. There are 80 live-animal markets operating in New York City alone.
Just as we don't want to be infected with or die of COVID-19 or other diseases, other animals don't want to suffer or be killed for food. A hen, for example, just wants to be left in peace so that she can teach calls to her chicks before they hatch (much like how a human mother talks to her baby in the womb) and teach her young the ways of the world. And rabbits just want to be left alone to protect their young, build nests, and hop freely.
Please contact your state legislators right away and urge them to cosponsor A. 10399/S. 8291 in order to close bloody, dangerous live-animal markets.