What's happening
This bill requires shelters and animal control officers to promptly provide seized, lost, or surrendered animals with proper care, shelter, food, water, and necessary veterinary treatment.
Why it matters
Mandates immediate welfare checks and veterinary care for animals. The bill requires that upon intake—whether seized, lost, stray, or owner-surrendered—animals must be promptly inspected for pain or suffering and provided with necessary treatment, including vet care, parasite control, and vaccinations. This establishes a clear legal standard for animal well-being from the moment of custody.
Creates enforceable standards for shelter conditions. By specifying that all animals in the care of shelters, pounds, or animal control must have continuous access to potable, non-frozen water, as well as proper food and shelter, the bill strengthens accountability and could reduce neglect or substandard conditions in municipal and contracted facilities.
Applies equally to all custodians and types of animals taken in. The requirements cover not just traditional animal control officers, but also humane societies and SPCA organizations under municipal contract, and they apply to dogs that are seized, lost, stray, or surrendered—closing potential gaps where some animals might otherwise receive lesser care.
May affect local budgets and operations. The need for prompt veterinary care, parasite control, and vaccinations could increase costs and procedural demands for shelters, municipalities, and animal control agencies, potentially requiring more resources, staff training, or oversight to comply with the law’s new standards.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Improve Dog Shelter Care
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 59
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to agriculture
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to agriculture
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.940
- 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.
Improve Dog Shelter Standards
In Assembly Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5515
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 4, 2017
Introduced by Sen. GALLIVAN -- 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 improving shelter care
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 117 of the agriculture and markets law, as added by chapter 220 of the laws of 1978 and such section as renumbered by section 12 of part T of chapter 59 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
3. [Each] For each dog seized in accordance with the provisions of this article [shall be properly sheltered, fed and watered for the redemption period as hereinafter provided], the dog control officer or peace officer, acting pursuant to their special duties, or police officer in the employ of or under contract to a municipality, or any duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, duly incorporated humane society, pound or shelter that is operated by or under contract to a municipality and is taking possession of such dog, whichever has possession of the dog shall:
(a) promptly inspect each dog following any seizure and promptly ensure dogs are provided with care and treatment to relieve any pain and suffering, including necessary immediate veterinary care and treatment and parasite control, and appropriate vaccinations, and
(b) during the time the dog is in the possession, care or control of such officer, society, pound or shelter, properly shelter and feed each dog, and make accessible at all times potable, non-frozen water to each dog.
§ 2. Section 373 of the agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new subdivision 1-b to read as follows:
1-b. Any officer, agent or society as described in subdivision one of this section or pound or shelter operated by or under contract to a
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08567-01-7
S. 5515 2
municipality that is taking possession of a lost, stray or homeless animal under the provisions of this section, whichever has possession of the animal during the applicable period, shall:
(a) promptly inspect each such animal after taking possession and promptly provide the animal with care and treatment to relieve any pain and suffering, including necessary immediate veterinary care and treatment and parasite control, and appropriate vaccinations; and
(b) during the time the animal is in the possession, care or control of such officer, society, pound or shelter, properly shelter and feed each animal, and make accessible at all times potable, non-frozen water to each animal.
§ 3. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new section 125 to read as follows:
§ 125. Surrendered dogs. 1. For each dog surrendered by its owner, any duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, duly incorporated humane society, pound or shelter that is operated by or under contract to a municipality and is taking possession of such dog, whichever has possession of the dog shall:
(a) promptly inspect each dog following any seizure and promptly ensure dogs are provided with care and treatment to relieve any pain and suffering, including necessary immediate veterinary care and treatment and parasite control, and appropriate vaccinations, and
(b) during the time the dog is in the possession, care or control of such officer, society, pound or shelter, properly shelter and feed each dog, and make accessible at all times potable, non-frozen water to each dog.
§ 4.This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it 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 improving shelter care
Purpose or general idea of bill
To improve the standard of care for animals in impounding organizations
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends subdivision 3 of section 117 of the agriculture and markets law to provide that each dog seized by an impounding organization shall be promptly inspected and provided with veterinary treatment, proper shelter, food and water.
Section two adds a new subdivision 1-b to section 373 of the agriculture and markets law to provide that the each lost, stray or homeless animal in an impounding organization shall be promptly inspected and provided with veterinary treatment, proper shelter, food and water.
Section three amends the agriculture and markets law by adding a new section 125, which states that for each dog surrendered by its owners, any impounding organization taking possession of such dog shall promptly inspect the dog to relieve any pain and suffering and shall provide veterinary treatment, as well as proper shelter, food and water.
Section four provides the effective date.
Justification
This bill will improve the care of animals in shelters. For each animal seized, the impounding organization must examine the animal and provide care and treatment to relieve pain and suffering, including necessary emergency veterinary care and treatment, parasite control and appropriate vaccinations. The impounding organization must also provide proper shelter, food and potable water.
Prior legislative history
S.2632/A. 1418 of 2015 and 2016 referred to agriculture. S.7496/A.3153 of 2013 and 2014, referred to agriculture.
Fiscal implication
None to the state.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth 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.