The New York Legislature recently adjourned after a busy two-year session where AKC followed over 350 bills with the potential to impact dogs and New York dog owners.
With state budget discussions dominating much of this year, there was a significant flurry of activity at the end of session to determine which bills would pass before the deadline.
AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) thanks the Associated Dog Clubs of New York State (ADCNYS) and the many club members, breeders, dog owners and sportsmen, and other stakeholders who joined us in communicating with lawmakers throughout the session. Working together ensured the protection of dogs in New York!
Summary of Key 2025-2026 Session Bills:
- Senate Bill 8252/Assembly Bill 8653 – As introduced, these bills in part would have required all who sell more than 9 puppies a year to be licensed and regulated as commercial pet dealers. AKC and the Associated Dog Clubs of New York State worked in opposition to these bills, which were amended to change the definition back to current law. Although AKC was extremely grateful for these changes, concerns and questions remained about bans on the sale of animals not bred/raised by the owner. The bills did not ultimately pass before the end of session.
- Senate Bill 3026/Assembly Bill 8551 – These bills would ban the practice of debarking unless medically necessary to treat an illness, disease or injury. AKC and its state federation opposed restricting the rights of responsible dog owners to make viable, safe decisions on behalf of their pets in conjunction with their veterinarians. AKC supported the portion of the bill that bans individuals performing these procedures. While both bills passed all policy committees, and S. 3026 passed the Senate, there was no final vote in the Assembly before the end of session.
- Assembly Bill 165/ Assembly Bill 6145/Senate Bill 6380 – These bills provided guidelines regarding the tethering of dogs outdoors. Many provisions in these bills were reasonable, including ensuring dogs can reach potable water and shade and that the tether is not so tight as to injure the dog. However, AKC and ADCNYS were concerned that arbitrary temperature and time constraints in the bills did not take into account the different breeds of dogs, or the purposes for which they may be kept.
165 did not allow for tethering for over 4 hours, during overnight hours, or in conditions where a dog’s health and safety are at risk. Further amendments requested by AKC and sportsmen were added to protect a variety of dog performance events and activities including hunting, tracking, “winter dog sports”, and training for these activities. A. 6145 would require continuous access to shelter if a dog is left outside for more than 30 minutes. While the definitions of a proper shelter were reasonable, it is unclear how this would apply to dogs acclimated to temperatures outside the ranges listed, including working dogs. A. 6145 did not have any exemptions.
A. 6145 was held in the Assembly Agriculture Committee. A. 165 passed the Assembly Agriculture Committee, but neither it nor its companion bill S. 6380 advanced further before the end of session.
- Senate Bill 1802 – This bill would have banned ear cropping and tail docking unless deemed medically necessary to protect the life or health of the dog. Many AKC club members reached out to their lawmakers, and AKC GR also met with key lawmakers to educate them on the reasons why these procedures may be humanely performed on specific breeds. The bill was never scheduled for a hearing and had no companion bill in the Assembly.
- Assembly Bill 8375/ Senate Bill 7612– These bills strongly supported by AKC provide a toolkit for transitional shelters to better support victims of domestic violence and those experiencing homelessness and their pets. The bills passed the Assembly and Senate. For many years, the AKC has been proud to provide grants to domestic violence shelters so they can better care for victims and their pets. Should the program be signed by the governor, AKC looks forward to working with the state to promote the success of this toolkit and other programs with similar goals to ensure that both these vulnerable members of society and their pets receive the safety and care they deserve.
AKC again thanks the Associated Dog Clubs of New York State and the many club members and dog owners who took the time to contact lawmakers throughout the 2-year session. We encourage clubs to consider inviting lawmakers to their shows and events between now and the beginning of the new session in January 2027 to continue educating them about purebred dogs and the positive impact AKC clubs and responsible breeders have on local New York communities.
For questions or more information on New York legislation, or for assistance in inviting lawmakers to your event, contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org.