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Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to agriculture
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to outdoor restraints of dogs
In Assembly Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Nicole Malliotakis
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to outdoor restraint of dogs
Purpose or general idea of bill
To ensure that dogs are tethered safely and humanely by providing rules for tethering and increasing the penalty of violating this law from a violation to a misdemeanor
Summary of specific provisions
Section one of this bill adds a new section 353-g to the Agriculture and Markets Law. Subdivision one of this new section defines the term "tether". Subdivision two of this new section provides that a dog shall not be tethered outside between the hours of 11 PM and 6 AM unless the dog is used in farming operations to herd or protect farm animals. Subdivision three of this new section prescribes rules for the tethering of animals in cities of one million or more people. These rules include the type of collar that may be used, the minimum rope length for a stationary tether, and the minimum rope length for a tether attached to a pulley, running line, or trolley. Additionally, multiple dogs must be tethered separately, and tethered dogs must be at least 6 months old and apparently free from a health condition that could be exacerbated by tethering. Finally, unless a dog's age, breed or physical condition would not put the dog's health at risk when tethered outside during adverse weather conditions such as rain, hail, snow or wind, the dog may not be tethered outside during periods when adverse weather conditions exist or when a weather advisory or warning has been issued. Subdivision four of this new section provides that a violation of this new section is a misdemeanor. Subdivision five of this new section provides that supervised outdoor tethering in a public location for 15 minutes or less is not a violation of this new section. Subdivision six of this new section provides that municipalities may enact local laws that are not less stringent than this new section to provide that any animal in the custody of a pound or shelter must, after the applicable owner redemption period, make the dog available for adoption in accordance with the provisions of Agriculture and Markets Law section 374.
Read the full memo (760 words)
Section two of this bill provides that this act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Existing law
Currently, unlicensed or unidentified dogs can be seized pursuant to Agriculture and Markets law section 117 and animals that are found abandoned and not properly cared for, or any lost, strayed, homeless or unwanted may be seized pursuant to Agriculture and Markets Law section 374. Unidentified dogs and animals seized pursuant to Agriculture and markets law section 374 must be held for 5 days to allow the owner to redeem the dog. The redemption period for identified dogs ranges from 7 to 9 days, depending upon the method used to notify the dog's owner. After the redemption period, any unredeemed dog must be made available for adoption or be humanely euthanized.
Justification
The regulation of tethering dogs is largely left up to the municipalities. During the January 2016 blizzard that hit New York City, two dogs, one age 14 and the other age 15, left outside in their dog house during gained, with the assistance of the news media and social media, the attention of people from across the City, State and Country. While there were no reports that these dogs were tethered to or in their dog house, the blizzard conditions essentially acted as a tether because they could not safely leave their dog house. Due to the vagueness of the laws, law enforcement could not seize the dogs. This bill creates specific rules regarding the tethering of dogs so that law enforcement and animal control officers can better enforce the law, ensure compliance and protect vulnerable animals.
Prior legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
Undetermined
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.