What's happening
This bill prohibits tethering, restraining, caging, or penning dogs or animals overnight and sets strict size and welfare requirements with penalties for violations.
Why it matters
Establishes clear nighttime protection for animals. by making it illegal to tether, restrain, cage, or pen any dog or animal between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., which aims to prevent prolonged isolation and exposure during overnight hours when animals are most vulnerable.
Sets minimum space and welfare standards. for animals kept in pens or cages during the day, requiring enclosures to be at least four times the height and length of the animal and ensuring access to food, water, shade, and dry ground—addressing concerns about animal comfort, safety, and humane treatment.
Imposes escalating penalties for violations. , including mandatory jail time, community service, and significant fines for each offense, with repeat offenders facing felony charges—signaling a strong deterrent and prioritizing animal welfare enforcement.
Affects owners, kennels, breeders, and animal businesses. by requiring changes to how animals are housed and restrained, potentially leading to increased costs for compliance but also reducing the risk of animal neglect or abuse cases.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Overnight Dog Tethering
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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.
Ban Overnight Dog Tethering
In Assembly Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1283
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2017
Introduced by Sens. AVELLA, ADDABBO, BOYLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the tethering of dogs or animals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new section 353-g to read as follows:
§ 353-g. Tethering, restraining, caging or penning of dogs or animals. 1. It shall be unlawful to tie, tether, restrain, cage or pen a working or non-working dog or animal, between the hours of 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
2. A working or non-working dog or animal may be tied, tethered, caged or penned between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., to a stationary object or a pen or cage in a sized pen or cage four times the height and length of said dog or animal; provided it is in a manner that is not inhumane or detrimental to the dog or animal's welfare, doesn't cause the animal to choke, permits the dog or animal to escape harm and permits the dog or animal to reach food, water, shade and dry ground.
3. Any person who knowingly violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by incarceration in city, town, village or county jail for not less than two days and not more than six months, shall perform between forty-eight and one hundred twenty hours of community service, and shall be subject to a fine of between two hundred dollars and one thousand dollars, upon their first offense. Upon their second offense, such person shall be subject to incarceration in city, town, village or county jail for not less than ten days and not more than six months, and shall be subject to a fine of between one thousand dollars and two thousand dollars. Upon their third offense, such person shall be subject to a felony.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00992-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the tethering of dogs or animals
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this legislation is to establish restrictions on the tethering of animals.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends the agriculture and markets law by adding a new section 353-g. Section two sets forth the effective date.
Justification
While some restrictions on the tethering of animals are codified and enforced in New York State, and even more specific restrictions have been passed by some local governments, many of these restrictions are vague, contradictory or unnecessarily complicated. More uniform restrictions need to be put in place on a state level so that law enforcement and animal control officers can better enforce the law, ensure compliance and protect vulnerable animals.
Prior legislative history
2015-.16: S.4706/A.1006 (Rosenthal) 2013-2014: A.2798
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.