What's happening
This bill amends the law to expand aggravated animal cruelty to include intentionally causing any physical injury, not just serious injury, to companion animals.
Why it matters
Broadens the scope of what counts as aggravated animal cruelty. now any intentional physical injury (not just “serious” injury) to a companion animal, if done with aggravated cruelty, can lead to felony charges. This means more acts could be prosecuted under the harsher statute.
Increases legal protection for companion animals. by lowering the threshold for what injuries qualify. Even less severe, but still intentional, harm may trigger felony penalties, signaling stronger societal condemnation of all forms of abuse.
Could result in higher rates of prosecution and conviction for animal cruelty. , as prosecutors would no longer need to prove that an injury was “serious”—just that it was intentionally inflicted with aggravated cruelty, making it easier to hold offenders accountable.
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Who cares
Prosecutors
The bill would let them pursue aggravated animal cruelty charges for intentional physical injury to a companion animal without having to establish serious physical injury, while retaining the other statutory requirements.
Companion animal owners
The bill would broaden aggravated cruelty protections for their animals to cover physical injuries that are not serious.
Animal welfare advocates
The bill would expand the injuries covered while preserving the requirement that the conduct be intended to cause extreme physical pain or be especially depraved or sadistic.
Headline styles
Toughen Animal Cruelty Law
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to agriculture
- 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.
Strengthen Animal Cruelty Penalties
In Senate Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Liz Krueger
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3844
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, WEPRIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to aggravated cruelty to animals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 353-a of the agriculture and markets law, as added by chapter 118 of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
1. A person is guilty of aggravated cruelty to animals when, with no justifiable purpose, he or she intentionally kills or intentionally causes [serious] physical injury to a companion animal with aggravated cruelty. For purposes of this section, "aggravated cruelty" shall mean conduct which: (i) is intended to cause extreme physical pain; or (ii) is done or carried out in an especially depraved or sadistic manner.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05265-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.