What's happening
This bill requires the state to set licensing and educational standards for people providing obedience training for non-service, non-police dogs.
Why it matters
Raises standards and accountability for dog trainers. By requiring licensing and educational standards, the bill aims to ensure that individuals offering obedience training for pet dogs are properly qualified, which could reduce the risk of harm to animals and improve training outcomes.
Protects animals from abusers. The bill specifically bars anyone convicted of animal cruelty or neglect (certain sections of Article 26) from being licensed as a dog trainer, helping to prevent individuals with a history of mistreating animals from working in this field.
Aligns training practices with animal welfare laws. Licensed trainers must comply with existing animal control and welfare laws, and can be inspected or held accountable by law enforcement or animal protection officers, potentially raising the overall standard of care in the industry.
Focuses regulation on non-working dogs. The bill excludes trainers who work with police and service dogs, targeting oversight specifically at those training pet dogs for the general public, which could affect a large portion of dog owners and training businesses.
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Who cares
Headline styles
License Dog Trainers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-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.
License Dog Trainers
In Assembly Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Kenneth Zebrowski
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
144
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 4, 2017
Introduced by Sen. KAMINSKY -- 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 requiring the commissioner of agriculture and markets to establish licensing and educational standards for individuals providing canine training for non-service and non-police dogs
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 113-a to read as follows:
§ 113-a. Obedience training. 1. The commissioner shall by rule or regulation establish licensing and educational standards for individuals providing basic obedience courses to non-service and non-police dogs and their owners.
2. This section shall not apply to any dog that falls under subdivision nine, eighteen, twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-five, twenty-six or twenty-seven of section one hundred eight of this article.
3. No person who is convicted of a violation of section three hundred fifty-one, three hundred fifty-three, three hundred fifty-three-a or three hundred fifty-five of article twenty-six of this chapter may be licensed to provide obedience training services under this section.
4. Licensees under this section are to maintain practices and facilities in accordance with animal control provisions under articles seven, twenty-five-b and twenty-six of this chapter and are subject to the enforcement of such provisions, by any constable, police officer, peace officer, dog control officer, animal control officer, or any officer or agent of any duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals as authorized under this chapter.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06045-01-7
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 requiring the commissioner of agriculture and markets to establish licensing and educational standards for individuals providing canine training for non-service and non-police dogs
Purpose
To license individuals and corporate entities who provide training to domestic companion dogs in New York State.
Summary of provisions
The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new section 113-a as described in the bill.
Justification
New York currently has no provisions in law to require the licensing and regulation of businesses that provide dog obedience training. This leaves pet owners, as consumers of these services, with little or no information about the legitimacy of any person or entity that chooses to call themselves a dog training expert.
In December of 2016, an Oceanside, New York dog training facility was the focus of an investigation after several claims of animal abuse. An employee of the facility was videotaped repeatedly poking a stick at a caged dog. Other reports of dogs, including young puppies, being wounded, beaten and mistreated at the same "school" are also being investigated. The owner of the school, in a written communication to a local newspaper, defended his actions by asking "Why is it abuse to hit a dog?"
In the absence of any professional standards, unscrupulous individuals can mislead unsuspecting dog owners, resulting in a lack of any real training, or worse, permanent damage and/or abuse of the animal. This bill will ensure that streamlined, consistent licensing practices are put into place, while denying licensing to anyone previously convicted of abusing an animal.
In addition to police officers, constables and peace officers, the bill also allows for enforcement by professionals who specialize in detecting animal abuse, including animal control officers, and officers and agents of an incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals (SPCA).
Legislative history
S.8219 of 2016
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.