Live Animal Markets

Live animal markets are establishments that have live animals, such as chickens, goats, sheep, rabbits and ducks, and slaughter them on site for sale to consumers. These markets even exist in densely populated areas in New York City.

Pursuant to our Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests, the Humane Society of New York received copies of New York State Agriculture and Markets inspection reports of live animal markets. The reports we received are for inspections as recent as 2020 and as far back as 2006.

Despite the horrific documented grossly unsanitary and inhumane conditions at the markets and the health and welfare risks that these markets pose, they continue to operate year after year. What is particularly alarming is that the same violations are repeated and documented over and over again despite their effects on animals, customers, workers, and communities.

Below is a sampling of complaints from consumers and neighbors of these markets as documented in the Department of Agriculture and Markets Inspection Reports:

• Birds are overcrowded in cages
• Chickens kept outside in crates in the hot sun
• Workers observed throwing chicken on the floor
• Cats kept in markets
• Bags of blood are being held in backyard and visible from street with blood draining from bag; garbage cans have live maggots
• Animal blood and feces on sidewalk causing offensive smell
• Improper garbage handling causing a terrible smell in the neighborhood preventing residents from using outside spaces
• Air is unbreathable
• Odor is unbearable
• Dirty water with chicken feathers and droppings clogged street drain and backed up on the street
• Odors are emanating from firm, flies and mosquitoes are in and around the firm; temperature in the firm is excessively hot
• Facility is infested with roaches and rats
• Spoiled chicken sold
• Chicken purchased was discolored; black with foul odor
• Chicken and lambs delivered to customers were kept unrefrigerated in personal vehicles; sometimes for more than four hours

Below is a sampling of the inspectors’ findings as documented in their inspection reports:

• Dead bird in cage with live birds
• Animal feed with mold
• Live bird cages are heavily soiled with feces and feathers
• Adequate water not provided to live birds
• Extensive build-up of bird droppings in the catchment pans in the live bird holding area creating strong ammonia odor
• Live birds are housed in transportation cages
• Live baby ducks are kept in plastic grocery carts
• Cats in slaughterhouse markets
• Door to kill room is open during operation
• Doorway between kill room and live poultry area has missing door
• Outside of buildings has accumulation of feces, feathers, undrained stagnant water, unused materials and even dead animals, including on sidewalk, causing offensive odors
• Entrance and exterior doors opened and not screened. Offensive odors emanating outside
• Human food stored at inadequate temperatures; Improper labeling; Containers not properly identified as “inedible”
• Machinery with extensive accumulation of dark grime across food contact services
• Back flow prevention devices not working or provided; Drains inadequately maintained; Stagnant and murky water; Water dripping from ceiling onto floor creating puddles; Leaking sewer pipes
• Dust and debris throughout
• Lack of proper sterilization or disinfection system
• Rat and mouse droppings, cockroaches, and flies
• Intermingled fresh and old rat droppings are present in meat room
• Inadequate ventilation systems yielding excessive dust
• Soiled walls and ceilings, peeling surfaces, and cobwebs
• Insufficient lighting
• Rusted machinery
• Use of non-cleanable surfaces
• Inadequate handwashing facilities lacking sanitary devices
• Workers without hair restraints; Workers don’t change aprons from kill to processing areas
• Shell eggs are stored in retail refrigerator at internal temperature of 69F for an undetermined length of time
• Thermometer is not provided in eggs walk-in-cooler
• Street coats and shoes are stored in eggs walk-in cooler and not segregated from food storage areas
• 100-200 live flies observed airborne and resting on walls in front cage storage area and retail area
• Maintenance of poultry slaughter knife, bird picking machine, and condition of poultry cone table are likely to contribute to contamination
• Lack of a knife sterilization or disinfection system in the eviscerating room

Section 96-b of the Agriculture and Markets Law prohibits new markets from operating within 1500 feet of residential dwellings. However, this law does not affect the serious problems created by existing markets or prohibit new markets from opening beyond 1500 feet from residences. These establishments are inhumane to animals, pose health and safety problems for consumers and workers, and also deprive their neighbors of the right to live healthfully in their own homes. They are also potentially harmful to all of us. Experts throughout the world have stated their belief that there is a link between COVID-19 and live animal markets.

How To Take Action

New York

Please ask your NYS legislators to support A. 959 and S. 4311 to ban the operation of live animal markets where animals are slaughtered for food and to establish a task force to examine the effects of live animal markets on public health and safety and animal welfare.

A. 959 and S. 4311 are sponsored by Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal and Senator Luis Sepulveda. The Humane Society of New York helped to draft this legislation.

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