FAIRPORT, N.Y. — Protesters gathered in front of Lollypop Farm in Fairport on Saturday, demanding stronger protections for animals. News10NBC’s Declan Stablow spoke with protesters earlier in the day.
Dozens of protesters attended the event. Organizers said the movement has been growing, spurred by recent cases in Rochester where dogs were left outside in freezing weather.
Protesters expressed concerns that not enough was done to help the animals in those cases or to hold their owners accountable. They are advocating for the creation of an animal cruelty task force and laws that would make it easier for law enforcement to remove animals from potentially dangerous situations.
“We’re not going to stay quiet. We can’t stay quiet because that’s the thing. Nobody really wants to be here. We all have lives. We all have other things we’d rather be doing. We all have lots of pets of our own. I run an animal sanctuary, but we are here because the reality is, whatever discomfort that we may be in, if we’re not here, then no one’s going to be speaking out for these dogs,” one protester said.
Lollypop Farm responded to the protests, stating they operate within New York state law and are actively working to strengthen current laws so humane law enforcement can act more quickly in the future. They also added that they respect people’s right to voice their concerns and that their focus remains on helping animals.
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