What's happening
This bill requires prompt reporting and care for animals found abandoned on vacated properties after evictions or foreclosures.
Why it matters
Creates a legal obligation for property managers, landlords, or others authorized on vacated properties to check for and report abandoned animals within six hours. , increasing accountability and potentially saving pets from prolonged neglect or death.
Establishes clear procedures for the care and custody of animals found on vacated properties. , requiring that they be placed with animal welfare organizations and treated according to existing humane laws.
Makes it a legal violation to fail to report abandoned animals as required. , introducing a new enforcement mechanism that could deter neglect and encourage timely intervention.
Explicitly preserves the authority of animal welfare officers and police to act on animal cruelty and abandonment cases. , ensuring that this new process does not weaken or interfere with their existing enforcement powers.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Abandoned Animals on Properties
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 56–2
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.186
- Referred to domestic animal welfare
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to judiciary
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–1
Show 4 earlier actions
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.890
- Referred to domestic animal welfare
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.
Rescue Abandoned Animals Faster
In Assembly Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3412
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 6, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MARTINEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Domestic Animal Welfare
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the care and collection of animals on vacant property
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 373 of the agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new subdivision 2-a to read as follows:
2-a. a. Notwithstanding sections thirteen hundred seven and nineteen hundred seventy-one of the real property actions and proceedings law or any other provision of law to the contrary, any person or entity who is authorized to be on property that has been vacated as a result of an eviction, property foreclosure, forfeiture or default on a mortgage, trust deed or land sales contract, or abandonment who encounters an animal which based on its physical appearance or lack of available food or water appears abandoned on such property shall promptly, but not later than six hours after such encounter, notify the dog control officer, the police, or agent or officer of a duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals about such encounter, for the purpose of promptly retrieving or providing necessary care for such animal at the property until the animal can be retrieved. Animals removed from the premises shall be placed in the custody of a pound, duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, duly incorporated humane society, or duly incorporated animal protective association and cared for in accordance with the provisions of this section, section three hundred seventy-four of this article, section one hundred seventeen of this chapter, and all other laws and ordinances that govern the humane treatment of animals. Failure to provide notification as provided for in this subdivision shall be a violation.
b. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or restrict in any way agents or officers of societies for the prevention of cruelty to
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03134-01-9
S. 3412 2
animals or the police from enforcing provisions of this article or any other law relating to abandonment of animals or the inhumane treatment of or cruelty to animals.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth 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 the care and collection of animals on vacant property
Purpose
This bill requires the notification of an animal control officer or other authorized agent when authorized persons encounter an animal that has been abandoned on property vacated through lease termination, prop- erty foreclosure or eviction.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends section 373 of the agriculture and markets law by adding subdivision 2-a.
Section two sets forth the effective date.
Justification
As a consequence of the sub-prime mortgage crisis and the broader economic downturn, residential properties across New York have been abandoned as owners default or renters are evicted from their homes. This economic trend has led to a corresponding increase in animal aban- donment as companion animals are left behind. Through this legislation, those who encounter abandoned animals will have the basic framework regarding the proper notification of animal care and control officials. This legislation is needed to help prevent the starvation and death of animals as a result of owners and caretakers leaving them behind on these properties.
Legislative history
2017-18: A.4168 - Referred to Judiciary 2015-16: A.686 - Referred to Judiciary 2013-14: A.1083 - Referred to Judiciary 2011-12: A.9319-8 - Referred to Judiciary
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This bill shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.