The New York Senate continues to advance a bill that would allow a person to receive damages for mental distress or emotional harm caused by the injury or death of a companion animal.
AKC opposes this bill. Allowing non-economic damages for pets calls into question the legal status of pets as property. The legal concept that pets are personal property protects pet ownership and the rights of pet owners. A change in the legal status of animals could result in restricting the rights of owners, veterinarians, and government agencies to protect and care for dogs.
View AKC’s previous alert for more information and talking points.
We encourage New Yorkers to contact their State Senator TODAY and ask them to oppose Senate Bill 6027. Type your zip code in the “Find Officials” box on the AKC Legislative Action Center homepage to get the name and contact information for your State Senator.
AKC Government Relations continues to monitor this and all legislation impacting dog owners in New York. For more information, contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at doglaw@akc.org.