Creates an animal population control fund and animal population control program

Section 2 amends the administrative code of the city of New York by adding a new section 17-811 requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to establish and implement an animal population control program, the purpose of which is to reduce the significant cost to the city of sheltering and finding homes for or euthanizing these animals by reducing the population of unwanted stray dogs and cats. The Department must promulgate rules and regulations related to this program within 120 days from the effective date of this bill. The program will encourage New York City residents who own cats or dogs to have them spayed or neutered by providing low-cost spaying and neutering services to such owners. The program will include but not be limited to the creation of clinics where such services shall be performed and establishing criteria for pet owner eligibility to use such services. Indicia of eligibility for pet owners seeking low-cost spay and neuter services shall include but not be limited to any criteria, including proof of income, deemed acceptable or necessary by the agencies performing the services. To carry out the provisions of this section, the commissioner of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene may use funds from the animal population control fund established by section 17-812 of this chapter, as well as any other public or private source.

Section 3 amends the administrative code of the city of New York by adding a new section 17-812 that would establish in the joint custody of the City comptroller and commissioner of finance an animal population control fund consisting of all moneys collected from the animal population control program established pursuant to section 17-811 of this chapter and all other moneys from any fund or source. Moneys of the fund will be used for the purpose of carrying out animal population control programs for the general public and shall be paid out of the fund on the audit and warrant of the city comptroller on vouchers approved by the commissioner of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Any interest the city comptroller receives from these moneys shall go back into the fund.

Section 4 amends section 3-a of chapter 115 of the laws of 1894 relating to the better protection of lost and strayed animals and the rights of owners thereof to add to the fee charged pursuant to sections one and two of that chapter a fee of three dollars or any greater amount as determined by the city council for any person applying for a dog license who is the owner of a dog four months of age or older which has not been spayed or neutered, unless the owner presents with his or her license application a statement certified by a licensed veterinarian stating that he or she has examined the dog and found that, due to old age or other reasons, the life of the dog would be endangered by spaying or neutering. All fees collected pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be forwarded to the comptroller for deposit in the animal population control fund established by this chapter.

Section 5 requires any unspent moneys garnered from dog licensing fees in cities with populations of two million or more and collected and deposited in the animal population control fund to be retained in the fund. Section 6 sets out the effective date.

Justification

New York's huge population of unwanted cats and dogs imposes an undue financial burden on the city that must shelter and find homes for or euthanize these animals. It also results in millions of healthy animals being euthanized every year due to a shortage of shelter for every unwanted animal. Surgery is the only foolproof and permanent method of birth control for cats and dogs, and it is the most effective and humane way to address the problem of animal overpopulation. This bill, which is supported by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Department of Agriculture and Markets, would create an animal population control fund to fund the New York City animal population control program. Such a program would reduce the population of unwanted stray dogs and cats and encourage the neutering of animals. By establishing an animal population control program and an animal population control fund for the purposes of ensuring that all pets are spayed and neutered, New York State will be acting justly and responsibly on behalf of the people and animals of New York.

Fiscal implications

Undetermined.

Effective date

Immediately.