What's happening
This bill requires all New York dog owners and their dogs to complete a basic obedience training course and obtain certification.
Why it matters
Directly involves all current and prospective dog owners. The bill creates a new statewide requirement for both owners and their dogs to undergo and pass a basic obedience training course, fundamentally changing the responsibilities of pet ownership.
Standardizes dog training and certification. By requiring the Agriculture Commissioner to set minimum course requirements and approve schools, the bill aims to ensure consistency and quality in obedience training across New York, which could impact both public safety and animal welfare.
Links dog licensing to training compliance. Dog owners must submit proof of training completion to obtain or renew a dog license, making obedience certification a formal part of the licensing process and potentially reducing the number of untrained dogs in the community.
Includes a visible indicator of compliance. Upon passing the course, owners receive a distinctive yellow metal tag for their dogs, signaling to authorities and the public that the dog and owner have met the new training standards, which may affect enforcement and public interactions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Mandate Dog Obedience Training
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to agriculture
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4896
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2017
Introduced by Sen. DIAZ -- 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 all dogs and their owners to successfully complete basic obedience training
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 107 of the agriculture and markets law, as amended by section 1 of part T of chapter 59 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
1. This article shall apply to all areas of the state except any city having a population of over two million, except that the provisions of section one hundred thirteen-a of this article shall be applicable to the entire state.
§ 2. Paragraph (d) of subdivision 1 of section 109 of the agriculture and markets law, as amended by section 4 of part T of chapter 59 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
(d) The application shall be accompanied by the license fee prescribed by section one hundred ten of this article [and], a certificate of rabies vaccination or statement in lieu thereof, as required by subdivision two of this section, and, for owners and dogs subject to the provisions of section one hundred thirteen-a of this article, a certificate of successful completion of a basic obedience course. In the case of a spayed or neutered dog, every application shall also be accompanied by a certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian or an affidavit signed by the owner, showing that the dog has been spayed or neutered, provided such certificate or affidavit shall not be required if the same is already on file with the clerk or authorized dog control officer. In lieu of the spay or neuter certificate an owner may present a statement certified by a licensed veterinarian stating that he has examined the dog and found that because of old age or other reason, the life of the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07301-01-7
S. 4896 2
dog would be endangered by spaying or neutering. In such case, the license fee for the dog shall be the same as for a spayed or neutered dog as set forth in subdivision one of section one hundred ten of this article.
§ 3. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new section 113-a to read as follows:
§ 113-a. Obedience training; required. 1. The commissioner shall by rule or regulation establish requirements for basic obedience courses for dogs and their owners which must be successfully completed pursuant to this section. Such requirements shall include instruction for the owner on the principles of dog training, and instruction on and practice of obedience training by both the dog and its owner. Furthermore, the commissioner shall establish minimum requirements for the successful completion of such basic obedience courses.
2. The commissioner shall establish requirements for dog obedience schools which are authorized to provide the basic dog obedience courses for dogs and their owners as required by this section.
3. The owner of any dog reaching the age of one year shall, on or before the date such dog reaches one year of age or within one hundred eighty days of receiving ownership of such dog, whichever shall be later, successfully complete, with his or her dog, a basic obedience course.
4. Upon successful completion of a basic obedience course for dogs and their owners, the dog obedience school shall issue a certificate to the owner that he or she and his or her dog have completed such course. Upon presentation of such a certificate to a licensing clerk by the owner of a dog, such clerk shall issue, free of charge, to the dog owner a yellow metal tag which shall be affixed to a collar on the dog at all times. Such yellow metal tags shall be issued to licensing clerks by the department.
§ 4. Paragraph (g) of subdivision 1 of section 118 of the agriculture and markets law, as added by section 14 of part T of chapter 59 of the laws of 2010, is amended and a new paragraph (h) is added to read as follows:
(g) any owner of a dog to fail to notify the municipality in which his or her dog is licensed of any change of ownership or address as required by section one hundred twelve of this article[.];
(h) any owner to fail to complete a basic obedience course with his or her dog pursuant to section one hundred thirteen-a of this article.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that sections two and four of this act and subdivision 3 of section 113-a of the agriculture and markets law, as added by section three of this act, shall take effect one year after this act shall have become a law.
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 all dogs and their owners to successfully complete basic obedience training
Purpose
To require all dogs and their owners to successfully complete obedience training.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends the Agriculture and Markets Law, Section 107 (1). Provides that the requirements for basic obedience courses for dogs and their owners shall apply to the entire state.
Section 2. Amends the Agriculture and Markets Law, Section 109 (1) (d). Requires a certificate that documents successful completion of a basic obedience course.
Section 3. Amends the Agriculture and Markets Law by adding a new section 113-a. Provides that the Commissioner shall establish by rule or regulation requirements for basic obedience courses for dogs and their owners which must be successfully completed pursuant to this section. Such requirements shall include instruction for the owner on the principles of dog training, and instructions on and practice of obedience training by both the dog and its owner. Specifies that a certificate shall be issued upon successful completion of such training.
Section 4. Amends the Agriculture and Markets Law, Section 118 (1) (g) by adding a new paragraph (h). Allows a dog to be seized should any owner fail to complete a basic obedience course with his or her dog.
Section 5. Effective Date.
Existing law
None.
Justification
The goal of this bill is: to minimize vicious dog attacks, the destruction of property and unnecessary human or canine deaths; to better acquaint dog owners with their dogs; to teach dog owners proper obedience techniques, which will help owners to have better control of their dogs; and to minimize aggressive dog behavior and negligent dog owner behavior.
Prior legislative history
2016: 5.473- REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE 2105: S.473- REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE 2014: S.694 - Referred to Agriculture 2013: S.694 - Referred to Agriculture 2012: S.61 - Referred to Agriculture 2011: S.61 - Defeated in Agriculture 2009-2010: S.2219 - Referred to Agriculture
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately, provided that sections two and four of this act and subdivision 3 of section 113-a of the agriculture and markets law, as added by section three of this act, shall take effect one year after this act shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.