New York Senate Advances Legislation to Prevent, Prohibit, and Remedy Animal Mistreatment

Permits Microchipping Certain Animals in the Possession of Animal Rescue Organizations: This bill, S.5488, sponsored by Senator Comrie, would permit animal rescue organizations to microchip all dogs and cats in their possession not already implanted with one. A microchip would include the contact information of the organization in possession of the microchipped dog or cat. If any such animal has been adopted, it would include the contact information of the organization most recently in possession of it and the contact information of their current owner.

Prohibits the Use of Certain Animals in Traveling Acts: This bill, S.3629A, sponsored by Senator Fernandez, would prohibit using certain wild animals such as big cats, monkeys, and bears in traveling circuses and other traveling animal performances, and prohibit the New York Department of Environmental Conservation from issuing permits and licenses allowing the participation of these wild animals in circuses and other traveling animal performances.

Forbids the Devocalization of Dogs or Cats Unless Medically Necessary: This bill, S.3026, sponsored by Senator Gianaris, would prohibit surgical devocalization of dogs and cats unless an underlying medical condition necessitates the procedure.

Establishes a Civil Remedy to Protect Companion Animals from Mistreatment: This bill, S.3073A, sponsored by Senator Gianaris, would authorize police, animal control officers, or humane society agents to petition a civil court for authorization to inspect a pet owner's property for evidence of companion animal mistreatment, and to schedule an animal care hearing within ten days of the issuance of this inspection order. It would also establish processes for a court-ordered forfeiture of a companion animal and requiring that the owner provide an appeals bond totaling the cost of care of that animal by a shelter.

Prohibits Insurance Policy Restrictions Based on Dog Breed: This bill, S.9207, sponsored by Senator Gianaris, would prohibit insurers from restricting renters' insurance policies based on the policyholder harboring or owning any dog of a specific breed or mixture of breeds.

Provides Access to Live Scan Fingerprinting Technology to SPCA Officers: This bill, S.1664, sponsored by Senator Harckham, would provide an officer from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, who has made an arrest, access to live scan fingerprinting technology.

Requires Landowners to Inspect Vacated Properties for Abandoned Animals: This bill, S.1784, sponsored by Senator Hinchey, would require owners and lessors of properties vacated due to abandonment, eviction, foreclosure, or for a similar reason to inspect that property within three days for abandoned animals. If an abandoned animal is found, the landowner would be required to notify animal control, police, or the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Enacts "Tucker's Law": This bill, S.197, sponsored by Senator Martinez, would extend the maximum possible sentence of an individual found guilty of aggravated animal cruelty from two years to up to four years. In addition, it would allow greater judicial discretion to order consecutive or concurrent sentences when an individual is convicted of multiple counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.

Raises the Minimum Fine for Animal Abandonment: This bill, S.1741, sponsored by Senator Martinez, would raise the minimum fine for animal abandonment to five hundred dollars.

Enacts the "Big Five African Trophies Act": This bill, S.5014, sponsored by Senator Sepulveda, would ban the importation, possession, sale, and transportation of African lions, African leopards, African elephants, African giraffe, and black rhinoceras and white rhinoceras, or any part or product thereof, in New York.

Adds Animal Fighting to the List of Enterprise Corruption Crimes: This bill, S.3158 , sponsored by Senator Skoufis, would add animal fighting to the list of enterprise corruption crimes.