What's happening
This bill creates new felony crimes for intentionally harming or killing a companion animal to threaten, intimidate, or harass a household member, with increased penalties if done in front of a minor.
Why it matters
Directly addresses domestic violence. by recognizing that harming or killing a pet can be a deliberate tactic to control, threaten, or terrorize a family or household member, filling a legal gap where such acts were not previously treated as distinct felonies.
Creates stronger legal protections for companion animals. by elevating certain acts of cruelty—specifically those intended to intimidate or harass household members—to felony status, which is likely to deter this form of abuse and provide more severe consequences for perpetrators.
Acknowledges the psychological harm to children. by establishing a higher felony (class C) when such acts are committed in front of a minor, highlighting the law’s concern for the trauma inflicted not just on the primary victim but also on children who witness violence against animals.
Integrates and clarifies terminology with existing statutes. by referencing established definitions for “companion animal” and “family or household member,” ensuring the law is precise, enforceable, and consistent with other protective laws in New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Criminalize Animal Abuse as Threat
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
850
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, SEAWRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to establishing the crimes of cruelty to animals to threaten, intimidate or harass in the second degree and first degree
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding two new sections 120.80 and 120.85 to read as follows: § 120.80 Cruelty to animals to threaten, intimidate or harass in the
second degree.
1. A person is guilty of cruelty to animals to threaten, intimidate or harass in the second degree when such person intentionally injures or kills, with no justifiable purpose, any companion animal with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or harass a family or household member who such person knows or should have known owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held such companion animal.
2. For purposes of this section:
(a) "Family or household member" shall have the same meaning as subdivision two of section four hundred fifty-nine-a of the social services law.
(b) "Companion animal" shall have the same meaning as subdivision five of section three hundred fifty of the agriculture and markets law.
Cruelty to animals to threaten, intimidate or harass in the second degree is a class D felony. § 120.85 Cruelty to animals to threaten, intimidate or harass in the
first degree.
1. A person is guilty of cruelty to animals to threaten, intimidate or harass in the first degree when such person intentionally injures or kills, with no justifiable purpose and in the presence of a minor child,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03116-01-5
any companion animal with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or harass a family or household member who such person knows or should have known owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held such companion animal.
2. For purposes of this section:
(a) "Family or household member" shall have the same meaning as subdivision two of section four hundred fifty-nine-a of the social services law.
(b) "Companion animal" shall have the same meaning as subdivision five of section three hundred fifty of the agriculture and markets law.
(c) "Minor child" means an individual under the age of eighteen.
(d) "Presence of a minor child" shall mean in the physical presence of a child under the age of eighteen knowing or having reason to know that a child is present and may see or hear such act.
Cruelty to animals to threaten, intimidate or harass in the first degree is a class C felony.
§ 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.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.