What's happening
This bill requires veterinarians to provide detailed informed consent to pet owners before euthanasia and allows owners to be present.
Why it matters
Empowers pet owners with detailed information. By requiring veterinarians to explain all available euthanasia methods, their risks, and alternative options, the bill ensures owners make more informed, thoughtful decisions about their pets' final moments.
Raises standards for humane treatment. The law prohibits certain painful euthanasia techniques (like intracardiac injection) unless the animal is heavily sedated, anesthetized, or comatose—except in rare, documented circumstances—helping to minimize animal suffering.
Strengthens transparency and accountability. Mandatory documentation and signed forms from both veterinarians and pet owners create a clear record that legal standards were followed, reducing the likelihood of misunderstandings or disputes.
Acknowledges emotional needs of owners. By guaranteeing owners the right to be present throughout their pet's euthanasia, including confirmation of death, the law recognizes the deep human-animal bond and supports grieving owners during a difficult experience.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Require Pet Owner Consent
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
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.
Require Owner OK for Pet Euthanasia
In Senate Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor José M. Serrano
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6611
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 10, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, HOOPER, COOK -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ARROYO, GOTTFRIED, MOSLEY, MOYA, PEOPLES-STOKES, PERRY, RIVERA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to informed consent of owners for euthanasia of a pet
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as "Sir Henry's law".
§ 2. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new section 353-g to read as follows:
§ 353-g. Humane euthanasia of companion animals; owner informed consent. 1. Prior to the humane euthanasia of a companion animal which is not lost, strayed, homeless or abandoned, the veterinarian, who will perform such procedure upon the animal, shall explain to the companion animal owner, who grants consent to having the companion animal euthanized, in a truthful and easy to understand manner:
(a) the various methods which can be utilized to humanely euthanize the companion animal;
(b) the benefits and risks of each such method;
(c) the negative impacts upon the animal of each such method;
(d) the alternative method of humane euthanasia to be utilized if the preferred method cannot be humanely utilized, and the negative impacts and risks of the alternative method; and
(e) fully answer any questions the companion animal owner has with regard to euthanizing the owner's pet.
2. No companion animal which is not lost, strayed, homeless or abandoned shall be euthanized by means of intracardiac injection unless the animal is heavily sedated, anesthetized or comatose. However, a licensed veterinarian may perform euthanasia by intracardiac injection upon animals that are not heavily sedated, anesthetized or comatose only when
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01146-01-7
A. 6611 2
such licensed veterinarian determines that such intracardiac injection is the most humane option available. Whenever a cardiac injection is administered by a licensed veterinarian upon an animal that is not heavily sedated, anesthetized or comatose, such veterinarian shall document, in writing, the administration of such injection and the reason for its administration. Such documentation shall be retained for at least three years.
3. The owner of a companion animal that is humanely euthanized shall be allowed to remain with his or her pet during the entire process of euthanasia, including when death is confirmed.
4. Both the veterinarian, who humanely euthanizes a companion animal, and the owner of such animal shall sign a form, established by the department, stating that the provisions of this section have been fully complied with, that all humane euthanasia methods have been considered and explained, and all questions relating to the euthanasia process have been answered to the owner's satisfaction.
5. The department may promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however, that, effective immediately, any actions necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before such date.
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.