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- Referred to judiciary
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.
Prohibits landlords from requiring animals be de-clawed
In Assembly Committee · Housing · Sponsor Michael DenDekker
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the real property law, in relation to prohibiting landlords from requiring animals that occupy the unit be de-clawed as a condition of rental
Purpose
There is no reason an animal should have to be physically altered as a result of renting.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the real property law is to be amended by adding a new section 235-h to read as follows: 235-h. Unlawful restrictions on tenancy. A landlord shall not require that any domestic animal occupying the rental unit be declawed as a condition of rental.
Justification
Declawing, or onychectomy, is a series of amputations, where nail clippers are commonly used to amputate an animal's front claws and sever tendons at the first joint. The de-clawing of household animals is simply inhumane. In fact, anti-declawing legislation has already been passed, beginning with California in 2002. Far more than just a simple manicure, declawing is actually considered surgery, for an animal's claw is so closely adhered to the bone that in order to remove the claw the last bone of the pet's claw must be surgically removed. Loose bone fragments frequently remain, making it excruciatingly painful for the pet to walk. Furthermore, close analysis shows that the declawing of cats, for example, are often the cause of far worse property damages, as opposed to clawed cats, for at least 15% develop litter box aversion. Avoidance of the litter box leads cats to urine on floors, penetrating and damaging the property. Lastly, the main concerns landlords face is the damaging of the renting property and thus lose of financial stability. Fortunately, there are several compromises which can be made, one being that landlords may charge a deposit if a tenant wishes to house a domestic animal. If damages to the property are incurred, the landlord may choose to keep the deposit. If there are no damages, the deposit will be returned.
Legislative history
A new bill.
State and local fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.