Babylon Town targets 'puppy mills'

Babylon Town trustees are considering a new law to keep so-called “puppy mills” out of the town, saying the municipal animal shelter is already “continuously over capacity with dogs for adoption.”

A spokesman said that none of those breeding businesses — which keep animals in harsh, sometimes unsanitary conditions — are operating in the town now. The law is “proactive,” he said.

The proposed law would mandate 25 square feet of space per puppy in any building where the animals are displayed or bedded and federal licensing for breeders. A violation would be a misdemeanor, punishable by jail time and a fine of $5,000 to $10,000.

Another proposed law targets disused utility poles. A draft bill says that “hundreds, if not thousands of aesthetically unpleasant damaged poles” are lining the town’s roads and that they “pose a serious threat” to the safety of town residents.

The law would give utility companies or their contractors 30 days to remove a damaged pole after issuing a permit to install a new one; violators would face daily fines.

Trustees are scheduled to take up the proposed laws at their Oct. 20 meeting.