New York Senate Committees will consider two bills next week that would benefit New York dogs and responsible dog owners.
Senate Bill 1495 would criminalize stealing a pet from someone’s property, and Senate Bill 6418 amends current law to further protect dogs left in vehicles under extreme temperatures.
New York residents are encouraged to contact the Senate Codes and Agriculture Committees in support of these measures (scroll down for contact information for these committees).
Summary:
Senate Bill 1495 (Pet Theft):
Current New York law declares that theft of certain property is grand larceny in the fourth degree. Senate Bill 1495 expands this to include a dog or cat taken from a dwelling, enclosure, or yard on the owner or custodian’s property.
While it does not address pets stolen when off the owner’s property, the AKC believes this is an excellent step that will provide law enforcement with an important tool to penalize those who steal pets from a person’s home or property.
This bill is carried over from the 2013 legislative session and will be considered by the Senate Codes Committee on Tuesday, May 6. Read AKC’s previous Legislative Alert to learn more and view contact information for the Senate Codes Committee.
Senate Bill 6418 (Dogs in Vehicles):
Senate Bill 6418 amends current law regarding leaving dogs in vehicles under extreme conditions. The bill would allow police and peace officers to remove a companion animal from a vehicle if the confinement may place the animal in imminent danger of death or serious physical injury. Current law only allows this if the conditions are placing the animal in danger.
The bill also removes the word “knowingly”, so anyone who violates the law, regardless of intent, is held accountable and will be fined. Current law creates exemptions if the vehicle is properly ventilated or there is other protection against extreme temperatures. In addition, if the driver of the vehicle cannot be promptly located, current law allows law enforcement to remove the animal from the vehicle and requires them to leave a written notice with the name of the officer that removed the animal and the location where the animal will be taken.
The AKC supports this bill that further holds dog owners accountable when travelling with their pets.
This bill will be considered in the Senate Agriculture Committee on Tuesday, May 6. The committee contact information is as follows:
Sen. Patty Ritchie (Chair)
Phone: 518-455-3438
Fax: 518-426-6740
E-mail: ritchie@nysenate.gov
View online e-mail form and additional contact information
Sen. Patrick Gallivan
Phone: 518-455-3471
Fax: 518-455-3471
E-mail: gallivan@nysenate.gov
View online e-mail form and additional contact information
Sen. Terry Gipson
Phone: 518-455-2303
E-mail: gipson@nysenate.gov
View online e-mail form and additional contact information
Sen. Velmanette Montgomery
Phone: (518) 455-3451
Fax: (518) 426-6854
E-mail: montgome@nysenate.gov
View online e-mail form and additional contact information
Sen. Thomas O’Mara
Phone: 518-455-2091
Fax: 518-426-6976
E-mail: omara@nysenate.gov
View online e-mail form and additional contact information
Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer
Phone: (518) 455-3161
Fax: (518) 426-6963
E-mail: ranz@senate.state.ny.us
View online e-mail form and additional contact information
Sen. Jose Serrano
Phone: (518) 455-2795
Fax: (518) 426-6886
E-mail: serrano@senate.state.ny.us
View online e-mail form and additional contact information
Sen. James Seward
Phone: (518) 455-3131
E-mail: seward@nysenate.gov
View online e-mail form and additional contact information
Sen. Cecilia Tkaczyk
Phone: 518-455-2470
E-mail: tkaczyk@nysenate.gov
View online e-mail form and additional contact information
Sen. David Valesky
Phone: (518) 455-2838
Fax: (518) 426-6885
E-mail: valesky@nysenate.gov
View online e-mail form and additional contact information
Sen. Catharine Young
Phone: (518) 455-3563
Fax: (518) 426-6905
E-mail: cyoung@senate.state.ny.us
View online e-mail form and additional contact information
New York Senate Committees will consider two bills next week that would benefit New York dogs and…