NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5165
SPONSOR: Tannousis TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to appro-
priate shelter for dogs
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL::
To increase the protection afforded to dogs that are housed outside in
inclement weather.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::
Section one of this bill amends Agriculture and Markets Law section
353(3)(b) to provide that housing facilities for dogs must be insulated
in such a way that the retention of body heat is promoted. The section
also requires a windbreak at the housing facility's entrance during the
months of November through March.
Section two of this bill provides that this act shall take effect on the
thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
JUSTIFICATION::
During inclement weather, dogs can face many perils. Without adequate
insulation and protection from wind, rain, snow and extreme temper-
atures, dogs can experience the loss of body heat, which can lead to
hypothermia. This bill would not only increase the protection from the
elements afforded to dogs, it would also make their owners more aware of
the other perils that exist when a dog is kept outside, such as exposure
to lawn pesticides and chemicals used to combat ice and snow. This bill
will help keep our dogs safe and healthy.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
2021 A6912 Held for consideration in Agriculture.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS::
Undetermined.
EFFECTIVE DATE::
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5165
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 3, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. TANNOUSIS -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to appro-
priate shelter for dogs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 3 of section 353-b of the
2 agriculture and markets law, as added by chapter 594 of the laws of
3 2003, is amended to read as follows:
4 (b) For all dogs that are left outdoors in inclement weather, a hous-
5 ing facility, which must: (1) have a waterproof roof; (2) be struc-
6 turally sound with insulation appropriate to local climatic conditions
7 and sufficient to protect the dog from inclement weather while promoting
8 the retention of body heat; (3) be constructed to allow each dog
9 adequate freedom of movement to make normal postural adjustments,
10 including the ability to stand up, turn around and lie down with its
11 limbs outstretched; [and] (4) allow for effective removal of excretions,
12 other waste material; dirt and trash; and (5) during the months of
13 November through March, provide a windbreak at the entrance. The housing
14 facility and the area immediately surrounding it shall be regularly
15 cleaned to maintain a healthy and sanitary environment and to minimize
16 health hazards.
17 § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
18 have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05128-01-3
