What's happening
This bill expands definitions and requirements for handling dangerous dogs, adding protections for companion and domestic animals and clarifying officer responsibilities.
Why it matters
Broader protections for animals. By explicitly including "companion animals" and "domestic animals" alongside farm animals and people, the bill significantly expands which animals are protected under dangerous dog laws, making it easier to hold owners accountable for attacks on pets and other non-livestock animals.
Clearer police and animal control responsibilities. The bill requires officers to make an on-the-spot determination about whether a dog is dangerous before leaving the scene, and to document whether the threat or attack was justified, ensuring swifter and more transparent responses to dog attacks.
Increased owner accountability. Owners can now face civil penalties if their dog injures not just people or service animals, but also companion or domestic animals, reinforcing the importance of responsible pet ownership and potentially deterring negligence.
Emphasis on unjustified threats. The bill clarifies that even if an attack did not occur, a dog’s behavior that poses a "serious and unjustified imminent threat" can trigger legal action, potentially allowing for earlier intervention before serious harm occurs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Tougher Rules for Dangerous Dogs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Enacting clause stricken
- 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 Dangerous Dog Laws
In Senate Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Martin J. Golden
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4464
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 2, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. SEPULVEDA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to dangerous dogs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1, paragraph (c) of subdivision 3, and subdivision 6 of section 123 of the agriculture and markets law, subdivision 1 as amended and such section as renumbered by section 18 of part T of chapter 59 of the laws of 2010, paragraph (c) of subdivision 3 as added and subdivision 6 as amended by chapter 392 of the laws of 2004, are amended to read as follows:
1. Any person who witnesses an attack or threatened attack, or in the case of a minor, an adult acting on behalf of such minor, may make a complaint of an attack or threatened attack upon a person, companion animal as defined in section three hundred fifty of this chapter, farm animal as defined in such section three hundred fifty, or a domestic animal as defined in subdivision seven of section one hundred eight of this article to a dog control officer or police officer of the appropriate municipality. Such officer shall:
(a) immediately inform the complainant of his or her right to commence a proceeding as provided in subdivision two of this section; and[,]
(b) determine if there is reason to believe that the dog is a dangerous dog[,] before leaving the scene. If the officer determines that there is a reason to believe the dog is a dangerous dog, the officer shall forthwith commence such proceeding himself or herself. When making such a determination, the officer shall articulate whether he or she believes that the dog (i) attacked or threatened to attack the person, companion animal or domestic animal without justification, or (ii) behaves in a manner which a reasonable person would believe poses a serious and unjustified imminent threat of serious physical injury or
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08074-01-7
A. 4464 2
death to one or more persons, companion animals, farm animals or domestic animals.
(c) the dog, without justification, caused serious physical injury or death to a companion animal, farm animal or domestic animal, and has, in the past two years, caused unjustified physical injury or death to a companion [or] animal, farm animal or domestic animal as evidenced by a "dangerous dog" finding pursuant to the provisions of this section.
6. The owner of a dog who, through any act or omission, negligently permits his or her dog to bite a person, service dog, guide dog [or], hearing dog, companion animal or domestic animal causing physical injury shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed four hundred dollars in addition to any other applicable penalties.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.