S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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5467
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
May 24, 2011
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Introduced by Sen. O'MARA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law and the general munici-
pal law, in relation to confinement of animals in private facilities
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
section 356-a to read as follows:
S 356-A. FAILURE TO PROVIDE PROPER CARE TO LARGE NUMBERS OF ANIMALS.
1. A PERSON WHO, HAVING IMPOUNDED, CONFINED OR IN ANY OTHER WAY HOUSED
ANY ANIMAL, REFUSES OR NEGLECTS TO SUPPLY TO SUCH ANIMAL DURING ITS
CONFINEMENT A SUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF GOOD AND WHOLESOME AIR, FOOD, WATER,
SHELTER, INCLUDING PROPER HEAT AND COOLING AS APPROPRIATE, LIGHTING,
HYGIENE, RECORD KEEPING, VETERINARY AND RELATED CARE, OR ALLOWS IT TO
REMAIN IN A CROWDED CONDITION OR IN UNHEALTHFUL OR UNSANITARY
SURROUNDINGS OR NOT PROPERLY CARED FOR, IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR,
PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT MORE THAN ONE YEAR, OR BY A FINE OF
NOT MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS, OR BY BOTH. IN CASE ANY ANIMAL SHALL
BE AT ANY TIME IMPOUNDED, CONFINED, OR IN ANY OTHER WAY HOUSED AS AFORE-
SAID, AND SHALL CONTINUE TO BE WITHOUT NECESSARY FOOD AND WATER FOR MORE
THAN TWELVE SUCCESSIVE HOURS, IT SHALL BE LAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON, FROM
TIME TO TIME, AND AS OFTEN AS IT SHALL BE NECESSARY, TO ENTER INTO AND
UPON ANY FACILITY IN WHICH ANY SUCH ANIMAL SHALL BE SO CONFINED, AND TO
SUPPLY IT WITH NECESSARY FOOD AND WATER, SO LONG AS IT SHALL REMAIN SO
CONFINED; SUCH PERSON SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO ANY ACTION FOR SUCH ENTRY,
AND THE REASONABLE COST OF SUCH FOOD AND WATER MAY BE COLLECTED BY HIM
OF THE OWNER OF SUCH ANIMAL, AND THE SAID ANIMAL SHALL NOT BE EXEMPT
FROM LEVY AND SALE UPON EXECUTION ISSUED UPON A JUDGMENT THEREFOR. THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL APPLY TO ANY FACILITY THAT IS USED TO
HOUSE OR CONTAIN MORE THAN TWELVE ADULT ANIMALS OR NINE ANIMALS AND
THREE OR MORE LITTERS OF ANIMALS PER YEAR AND ANIMALS THAT ARE OWNED,
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11568-01-1
S. 5467 2
OPERATED, OR MAINTAINED BY A NONGOVERNMENTAL ENTITY INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, AN ORGANIZATION OPERATING FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINDING OR
PROVIDING PERMANENT ADOPTIVE HOMES FOR ANIMALS, BUT SHALL NOT INCLUDE
WILDLIFE UNDER THE CARE OF WILDLIFE REHABILITATORS OR LABORATORY ANIMALS
HELD IN FACILITIES REGULATED PURSUANT TO 9 C.F.R. PARTS 1, 2 AND 3,
FACILITIES ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN ZOO AND AQUARIUM ASSOCIATION OR
FARM ANIMALS AS DEFINED IN SECTION THREE HUNDRED FIFTY OF THIS ARTICLE.
2. (A) THE COMMISSIONER IS DIRECTED TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS ESTAB-
LISHING STANDARDS FOR HUMANE CARE AND HOUSING OF ANIMALS AND RECORD
KEEPING, INCLUDING ANIMAL HEALTH CERTIFICATES FOR ANY ANIMALS TRANS-
PORTED INTO THE STATE.
(B) SUCH REGULATIONS SHALL BE ENFORCED CONCURRENTLY BY THE COMMISSION-
ER AND BY ANY MUNICIPAL CORPORATION IN THE STATE.
S 2. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new section 139
to read as follows:
S 139. PROPER FOOD, DRINK, SHELTER AND CARE TO IMPOUNDED ANIMALS. ANY
MUNICIPAL CORPORATION MAY BY LOCAL LAW OR ORDINANCE ENFORCE REGULATIONS
PROMULGATED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS PURSUANT TO
SECTION THREE HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX-A OF THE AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS LAW
ADDRESSING PROPER FOOD, DRINK, SHELTER AND CARE TO ANIMALS IMPOUNDED BY
DOG OR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER OR ANY PEACE OR POLICE OFFICER.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law.