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Senate Bill S461

2021-2022 Legislative Session

Prohibits ear clipping and tail docking of dogs and cats unless deemed medically necessary to protect the life or health of the dog or cat

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Agriculture Committee

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2021-S461 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Senate Agriculture
Law Section:
Agriculture and Markets Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §365, add §365-a, Ag & Mkts L
Versions Introduced in 2019-2020 Legislative Session:
S4073

2021-S461 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Prohibits ear clipping and tail docking of dogs and cats unless deemed medically necessary to protect the life or health of the dog or cat.

2021-S461 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S461 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    461
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 6, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  BIAGGI -- 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, in relation to  prohib-
   iting  ear  clipping  and  tail docking of dogs and cats unless deemed
   medically necessary to protect the life or health of the dog or cat
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The section heading and subdivision 1 of section 365 of the
 agriculture  and  markets  law, as amended by chapter 458 of the laws of
 1985, are amended to read as follows:
   Clipping or cutting the ears of dogs AND CATS.  1.  Whoever  clips  or
 cuts  off  or causes or procures another to clip or cut off the whole or
 any part of an ear of any dog OR CAT unless  an  anesthetic  shall  have
 been  given  to the dog OR CAT and the operation performed by a licensed
 veterinarian WHO DEEMS SUCH OPERATION MEDICALLY NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE
 LIFE OR HEALTH OF THE DOG OR CAT, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable
 by imprisonment for not more than one year, or a fine of not  more  than
 one thousand dollars, or by both.
   §  2.  The  agriculture  and  markets  law  is amended by adding a new
 section 365-a to read as follows:
   § 365-A. DOCKING DOG AND CAT TAILS; UNLAWFUL. 1. ANY PERSON  WHO  CUTS
 THE  BONE,  TISSUE, MUSCLES OR TENDONS OF THE TAIL OF ANY DOG OR CAT, OR
 OTHERWISE OPERATES UPON IT IN ANY MANNER FOR THE  PURPOSE  OR  WITH  THE
 EFFECT  OF  DOCKING OR OTHERWISE ALTERING THE NATURAL CARRIAGE OR LENGTH
 OF THE TAIL, OR ASSISTS, PROCURES, PROMOTES OR ENCOURAGES  SUCH  CUTTING
 OR OPERATION FOR REASONS OTHER THAN TO PROTECT THE LIFE OR HEALTH OF THE
 DOG OR CAT AS DEEMED NECESSARY BY A DULY LICENSED VETERINARIAN, IS GUIL-
 TY  OF  A MISDEMEANOR PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED
 DOLLARS.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

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