What's happening
This bill prohibits landlords in New York from requiring tenants to declaw their animals as a rental condition.
Why it matters
Protects Animal Welfare. By prohibiting landlords from requiring declawing, the bill safeguards pets from a procedure widely considered painful and unnecessary, reflecting growing recognition of animal rights and responsible pet ownership.
Reduces Tenant Hardship. Renters with cats or other animals are no longer forced to choose between keeping their pets intact or securing housing, making it less burdensome for pet owners to find suitable rental accommodations.
Shifts Housing Norms. This law would establish that animal-related requirements imposed by landlords must respect the well-being of the animal, potentially setting a precedent for future tenant and animal protections.
Legal Clarity and Enforcement. By adding explicit language to real property law, the bill provides tenants with a clear legal basis to challenge any landlord who attempts to impose declawing as a rental condition, strengthening tenants' rights in housing disputes.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Mandatory Pet Declawing
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to housing
- Referred to housing
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.
Ban Forced Pet Declawing
In Senate Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Leroy Comrie
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3879
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. DenDEKKER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Housing
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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The real property law is 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 de-clawed as a condition of rental.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00397-01-7
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.