What's happening
This bill increases the fines for failing to provide appropriate shelter for dogs left outdoors in New York.
Why it matters
Significantly raises the maximum financial penalties for failing to provide proper shelter to dogs. , which could create a much stronger deterrent against neglectful behavior by dog owners.
Imposes escalating fines for repeated violations. (up to $250 for a first offense, up to $500 for a second, and up to $1,000 for a third), signaling that ongoing or repeated neglect will be treated more seriously.
Treats each day of noncompliance as a separate offense after 72 hours. , meaning fines can accumulate rapidly for continued failure to correct shelter deficiencies, further incentivizing prompt action by dog owners.
Reflects an increased legislative priority on animal welfare. by updating penalties first set in 2003, which may encourage broader awareness and enforcement of humane treatment standards for animals.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Increase Dog Shelter Fines
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.187
- Referred to domestic animal welfare
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to agriculture
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
Show 2 earlier actions
- 1st report cal.892
- 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.
Increase Dog Shelter Fines
In Assembly Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Kenneth Zebrowski
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3559
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 8, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KENNEDY -- 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 increasing the monetary penalties for the failure to provide appropriate shelter for a dog left outdoors
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 353-b of the agriculture and markets law, as added by chapter 594 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Any person who owns or has custody or control of a dog that is left outdoors shall provide it with shelter appropriate to its breed, physical condition and the climate. Any person who knowingly violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a violation, punishable by a fine of [not less than] up to two hundred fifty dollars [nor more than one hundred dollars] for a first offense, [and] a fine of [not less than one] up to five hundred dollars [nor more than two hundred fifty dollars] for a second violation and [subsequent offenses] a fine of up to one thousand dollars for a third violation. Beginning seventytwo hours after a charge of violating this section, each day that a defendant fails to correct the deficiencies in the dog shelter for a dog that he or she owns or that is in his or her custody or control and that is left outdoors, so as to bring it into compliance with the provisions of this section shall constitute a separate offense.
§ 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.
LBD01438-01-9
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 increasing the monetary penalties for the failure to provide appropriate shelter for a dog left outdoors
Purpose
This bill will increase the penalties for failure to comply the provisions of the Agriculture and Markets Law that require appropriate shelter for dogs left outdoors.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends section 353-b of the agriculture and markets law, in relation to increasing the penalties for failing to provide appropriate outdoor shelter to a dog. The bill would make the first offense a violation with a fine of two hundred fifty dollars; the second offense a violation with a fine of five hundred dollars and a third offense would be a violation guilty of one thousand dollars. After 72 hours, the continued failure to correct would constitute an addi- tional violation of the law.
Section 2 of the bill relates to the effective date.
Justification
The current law lacks sufficient penalties for the failure to provide adequate shelter for dogs left outdoors. The current penalty, a violation, provides for a fine of $50 to $100 for the first offense, and $100 to $250 for the second offense. This bill would increase the mone- tary fines that to a more substantial amount, creating a more efficient deterrent to violating the law. This law provides guidance and assur- ances that dogs are protected while outdoors. This bill will also provide law enforcement with the tools they need to enforce the law.
Legislative history
2017-18: S.1509/A.1473 A8891 of 2013-2014.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect 30 days after it becomes law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.