Relates to owners of lost pets and return of lost pets to their owners

BILL NUMBER:S4203B

Title of bill

An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the identification of owners of lost pets and return of lost pets to their owners

Purpose or general idea of bill

To improve the process of reuniting lost animals with their owners when brought to impounding organizations

Summary of specific provisions

Section one amends subdivision 4 of section 113 of the agriculture and markets law to provide that the record of a seized dog shall include identifying information from a tag, tattoo or microchip if such can be reasonably ascertained.

Section two adds a new subdivision 3-a to section 117 of the agriculture and markets law to provide that within twenty-four hours following such seizure or taking possession of a lost or stolen dog, certain persons or entities shall check the dog for all currently possible forms of identification, make available to the public on a website a photograph, if practicable, and a general description of the dog to assist the owner(s) in finding the dog. Information about the dog may be withheld if deemed appropriate to facilitate finding the owner (s) or otherwise protect the safety of the dog. The information known about the seized dog shall be compared with records of dogs reported to be lost or stolen within twenty four hours after such records become available following seizure of taking possession of such dog. The notice may be made by means other than the Internet if use of the internet is impracticable. Nothing in this subdivision shall be interpreted as requiring a website to be maintained or equipment or technology to be purchased in order to comply with the provisions of this subdivision.

Section three amends subdivision 6 of section 117 to provide that promptly upon seizure of any identified dog, or a dog identified by another form of identification, including a tag, tattoo or microchip, the owner of such dog shall be notified personally, by telephone or by mail of the facts of the dog's impoundment and the procedure for redemption. If notification is given personally or by telephone, such dog shall be held for a period of seven days after the notice date. If notification is given by mail, such dog shall be held for a period of nine days from the date of mailing. In either case, the owner may redeem such dog during the holding period and upon payment of the impoundment fees and by producing proof that such dog has been licensed. Nothing in this subdivision shall be interpreted as requiring the purchase of equipment or technology to comply with the provisions of this subdivision.

Section four provides the effective date.

Justification

While animal shelters are already required to look for lost owners, this bill expands the methods by which shelters and dog control officers must identify a lost pet to include checking for tags, microchips, tattoos or licenses, comparing the information known about the dog with records of dogs reported to be lost or stolen, and making the information available to the public. This will help reunite more lost pets with their owners.

Prior legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implication

None to the state.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.