What's happening
This bill allows people to seek damages for the injury or death of a companion animal, including compensation for emotional bonds and possible punitive damages.
Why it matters
Expands Legal Rights for Pet Owners. This bill recognizes the unique emotional bond between people and their companion animals, allowing courts to award damages that go beyond the animal’s market value—potentially giving pet owners a new avenue to seek justice for their loss.
Deters Negligence and Abuse. By making it possible to recover damages—including punitive damages—for negligent, reckless, or intentional harm to companion animals, the bill aims to hold individuals accountable and discourage harmful behavior toward pets.
Reflects Changing Social Values. The bill aligns legal standards with contemporary views of pets as family members, not just property, potentially setting a precedent for how animals are treated in New York and influencing future legislation elsewhere.
Potential for Broader Impact. If passed, this law could increase awareness of responsible pet ownership and animal welfare, while also prompting insurance and legal industries to adapt to the new types of claims and damages it introduces.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Compensation for Pet Harm
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to judiciary
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10405
IN ASSEMBLY
May 4, 2020
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the general obligations law, in relation to compensation for injury or death of a companion animal
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The general obligations law is amended by adding a new section 11-108 to read as follows:
§ 11-108. Compensation for injury or death of a companion animal. 1. In addition to any other right of action or recovery otherwise available under law, a person may recover damages from another who negligently, recklessly, or intentionally causes unjustifiable physical injury or death of a companion animal.
2. In determining damages for negligently, recklessly, or intentionally causing physical injury or death to a companion animal, the court may consider, among other factors, evidence regarding the bond between the companion animal and the companion animal's owner. The court may also award punitive damages where physical injury or death to a companion animal was unjustifiable and intentionally or recklessly caused.
3. "Companion animal" as used in this section shall have the same meaning as subdivision five of section three hundred fifty of the agriculture and markets law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15025-02-0
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.