Debriefing - The Cat's Meow and the Dog's Mouthpiece AS the new chairwoman of the animal-law committee of the New York City Bar Association, Christine Mott heads a group that plays a key role in determining how animals fare in New Yorkers" homes and beyond. The committee, a volunteer arm of the bar association, deals with everything from the way animals are treated during natural emergencies to which pets are allowed in which New York apartments. Q Have animals always been a part of your life? A Always. When I was growing up in upstate New York, we had many pets - gerbils, parakeets, cats, dogs, rabbits. I remember my first guinea pig. Other animals were always part of the local scenery because there were so many farms nearby. But it wasn't until middle school that I became more aware of issues relating to the treatment of animals in society. Early on I become a vegetarian and then a vegan, and I was very pleased that my parents and my four siblings followed suit. During high school and college, I chaired my schools" animal rights organizations. And during law school at New York University, I took a course in animal law that motivated me to become more involved. One of my major papers addressed the issue of including animals in states" emergency planning in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, a topic that sadly turned out to be very timely in the past few weeks. Fortunately, New York has a good system for dealing with pets during emergencies, like allowing them in all city-run emergency shelters and on public transportation. Q You've been on the bar association's animal-law committee for five years and you became the chair in September. How did you end up there? A After law school, my N.Y.U. animal-law professor, David Wolfson, suggested that I join the committee. This was possible because my law firm, Cahill Gordon & Reindel, encourages pro bono and bar association activities, although committee work is not affiliated with the firm. The committee isn't an advocacy group. Our work involves monitoring legal issues concerning animals on a local, state and federal level. We issue reports on matters we feel strongly about, which are posted on our Web site, nycbar.org/animal-law. For example, we've commented on issues such as horse-drawn carriages in New York City, pet trusts and animal experimentation. We also run educational programs and publish informational brochures. We don't handle individual complaints, but if a person has a problem, we can make referrals to lawyers who specialize in animal-law issues. Q When it comes to animal law, do housing issues come up a lot? A Absolutely. The committee, which was the first animal-law committee of any bar association, was formed in 1994. And from the very beginning we have addressed pets in housing issues. Q Who makes the rules on pets in New York City apartment buildings? A With privately owned buildings, owners may limit the number and kind of animals or ban pets entirely, except with respect to service animals. In New York City Housing Authority properties, the general rule is one pet per family. Q What are some of the specific housing-related issues the committee deals with? A A major issue involves service animals. And not just Seeing Eye dogs for the blind. People might also need a service animal because of physical impairments that involve hearing or mobility, or for epilepsy or asthma, as well as psychological conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder or depression. Federal law says that a person can have a service animal if it's medically necessary. We want to make sure that law is enforced. For example, we supported legislation to make it clear that landlords cannot require proof that a service animal has been certified by the state. We also monitor legislation involving specific breeds of dogs. In New York State, municipalities cannot ban a specific breed, although the owner of an individual building may. And the New York City Housing Authority has a long list of breeds that are banned: pit bull, Doberman and Rottweiler, as well as any other breed weighing over 25 pounds. Q Lots of New Yorkers with pets know about the so-called "three-months law." How does that work? A The general rule is that if a tenant has an animal that has been living openly in the apartment - the water bowl in full view, for example - and if a landlord hasn't objected within 90 days, the tenant can keep the pet, and any replacement pet, for the duration of the tenancy, regardless of the terms of the lease. Our committee worked on the three-month law, helping make it more pro-pet. It benefits people and pets, making it easier for older people to have animals, which can be a great source of comfort, especially for shut-ins. And with the city's huge population of strays, this law makes it easier to find homes for abandoned cats and dogs. Q New York City has a law making wild animals illegal in apartment buildings. Does that issue come up much for the committee? A Yes. Our committee supported a law prohibiting wild animals as pets - like bears, monkeys and crocodiles. Q What other issues does the committee deal with that affect housing? A A major issue is the proliferation of live slaughter markets. In Chinatown and in parts of Brooklyn and Queens, there are many places where rabbits, chickens, goats, even cows, are slaughtered on site. It's a major public health issue for all the obvious reasons - the terrible smells, the spread of disease. Our committee supported legislation that banned new markets within 1,500 feet of a residence, and Governor Cuomo signed the bill in April. Q Given your interest in animal law, it's not surprising that you have pets. A My law school companion was a bunny named Pepper, but she passed away. Here in our apartment we have our dog, Daffy, who came from a shelter in New Jersey, and our cat, Roddy, who was rescued as a kitten by my fiancé, who loves animals as much as I do. It's very convenient living on far West 23rd Street because I can take Daffy to Chelsea Park. Q Daffy is looking very attractive in that pink and white sweater with the rhinestone hearts. Does it keep her warm? A Very. As you'll notice, she doesn't have as much fur as the cat.