What's happening
This bill allows owners to sue for damages if their companion animal is wrongfully injured or killed, including emotional damages and legal fees.
Why it matters
Expands legal recognition of the bond between people and companion animals. by allowing owners to claim damages for loss of companionship, comfort, and emotional support—not just property value—if their pet is wrongfully harmed or killed.
Creates financial deterrents for harming animals. by enabling courts to award punitive damages in cases of intentional or reckless conduct, in addition to compensatory damages, legal fees, and court costs.
Establishes mechanisms for ongoing animal care after injury. by allowing damages to be paid into a court-supervised trust for the animal’s benefit, ensuring funds are used for their care and any surplus goes to animal welfare organizations.
Strengthens legal tools for animal protection. by permitting courts to issue restraining orders and other injunctive relief to prevent further harm, signaling a shift toward treating companion animal welfare as a serious legal matter.
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Who cares
Companion animal owners
The bill would allow recovery of damages for lost companionship, veterinary care, court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees when someone injures or kills their animal without justifiable purpose.
People accused of harming companion animals
Intentional, reckless or negligent acts or omissions could trigger liability, with punitive damages possible for intentional or reckless conduct causing serious injury or death.
Court-appointed guardians and next friends
They could bring claims for injuries sustained by companion animals, with recovered damages placed in trusts for the animals’ care.
Nonprofit companion animal protection organizations
They would receive any funds remaining in an animal’s care trust when the animal dies.
Headline styles
Let Pet Owners Sue
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1344
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. GLICK, GALLAGHER, COLTON, SIMON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the general obligations law, in relation to establishing a cause of action in tort for the wrongful injury to 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. Wrongful injury or death of companion animal. 1. As used in this section:
(a) the term "companion animal" shall have the same meaning as such term is defined in subdivision five of section three hundred fifty of the agriculture and markets law; and
(b) the terms "physical injury" and "serious physical injury" shall have the same meaning as such terms are defined in subdivisions nine and ten, respectively, of section 10.00 of the penal law.
2. A person who with no justifiable purpose intentionally, recklessly or negligently, by act or omission causes the death of a companion animal shall be liable in damages for the fair monetary value of the deceased companion animal to such deceased companion animal's owner, including damages for the loss of the reasonably expected society, companionship, comfort, protection and services of the deceased companion animal to such deceased companion animal's owner; court costs and reasonable attorney's fees; and other reasonable damages resulting from the intentional, reckless or negligent act or omission.
3. A person who with no justifiable purpose intentionally, recklessly or negligently, by act or omission causes physical injury or serious physical injury to a companion animal shall be liable in damages for the expenses of veterinary and other special medical care required; the loss
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03801-01-5
of reasonably expected society, companionship, comfort, protection and services of the injured companion animal to such deceased companion animal's owner; court costs and reasonable attorney's fees; and other reasonable damages resulting from the intentional, reckless or negligent act or omission.
4. A person who with no justifiable purpose intentionally or recklessly, by act or omission causes the serious physical injury or death of a companion animal may be liable in punitive damages.
5. Damages under this section for injuries sustained by a companion animal's owner shall be recovered in an action in tort, commenced within three years from the date of injury or death or from the date when the owner knew, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence should have known, of the factual basis for a cause of action, subject to further extension on account of any suspension of the statute of limitations due to infancy, death or other cause as provided by law.
6. Damages under this section for injuries sustained by a companion animal shall be recovered in an action in tort brought by a guardian ad litem or next friend appointed by the court and, commenced within three years from the date of injury or from the date when the guardian ad litem or next friend knew, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence should have known, of the factual basis for a cause of action, subject to further extension on account of any suspension of the statute of limitations due to infancy, death or other cause as provided by law. Damages so recovered shall be payable into a trust for the care of the companion animal, which trust shall be enforceable for the life of the companion animal by a person appointed by the court. Any remainder of trust funds existing at the death of the companion animal shall be distributed to a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of companion animals.
7. Restraining orders and other injunctive relief for the wrongful injury or killing of a companion animal may be issued by a court of competent jurisdiction as appropriate.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to causes of action under section 11-108 of the general obligations law as added by section one of this act which arise on or after such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
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