June 4, 2015
The New York Senate has approved a bill that would make it a crime to steal a pet from an owner’s or legal custodian’s private property. The bill is now pending in the Assembly Codes Committee.
Summary:
Current New York law declares that theft of certain property is grand larceny in the fourth degree. Senate Bill 423 expands this to include a dog or cat taken from a dwelling, enclosure, or yard on the owner or legal custodian’s property.
Clearly defining pets as property ensures that responsible dog owners and breeders in New York who are victims of pet theft at their residence or private property are entitled to the same protections and compensations as other property owners whose property is stolen. This clarification also ensures that criminals who steal pets can be held accountable for their crime.
The AKC Government Relations Department (AKC GR) thanks those who took the time to contact the Senate on this important measure. AKC GR will continue to monitor this legislation and provide updates as they are available. For questions or more information, contact AKC GR at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.
The New York Senate has approved a bill that would make it a crime to steal a pet from an owners or legal custodians private property.