Requires a disclosure form for the surrender of a dog to a shelter, pound or dog protective association detailing the reasons for surrender and any aggressive tendencies of such dog.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2381
SPONSOR: Giglio JA TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to a
disclosure form for the surrender of a dog
PURPOSE:
This legislation is necessary to ensure the safety of adopted animals
and owners by requiring specific information regarding a dog's personal-
ity traits and/or propensities to be provided.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This legislation provides that when an individual who surrenders a dog
to a shelter, rescue or similar animal protective association, the
receiving agency shall have the individual fill out a form indicating
the reason or reasons for surrendering the dog, whether the dog has been
declared dangerous, whether the dog has bitten anyone or any other
information which the owner feels relevant to the future placement of
the dog.
JUSTIFICATION:
Overwhelmingly, the employees of animal shelters humane societies or
similar incorporated dog protective associations are volunteers and
offer services free of charge on a variable schedule. In light of this
transitory aspect to the staff, they may not be fully aware of all the
traits of each specific dog and as such may not be in a position to
fully inform prospective new owners of those traits which are imperative
to safely handling the dog. By filling out this short form when surren-
dering the dog, new owners would be advised by the prior owner of the
specific tendencies and personality traits for the safety of the animals
as well as themselves.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2022 A.6805 - referred to Agriculture
2021 A.6805 - referred to Agriculture
2020 A.6013 - referred to Agriculture
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have
become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2381
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 26, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. J. A. GIGLIO -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to a
disclosure form for the surrender of a dog
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 117 of the agriculture and markets law is amended
2 by adding a new subdivision 12 to read as follows:
3 12. (a) Every pound, shelter, incorporated humane society or similar
4 incorporated dog protective association, shall develop a form to be used
5 upon the surrender of a dog by its owner to such entity. Such form shall
6 request the following information from such owner:
7 (i) the reason or reasons for surrendering the dog;
8 (ii) whether the dog has been declared to be a dangerous dog; whether
9 such dog has ever exhibited aggressive tendencies;
10 (iii) whether the dog has ever bitten any person; and
11 (iv) any other information with regard to the dog which the owner
12 feels may be relevant to the future placement of the dog.
13 (b) The pound, shelter, incorporated humane society or similar incor-
14 porated dog protective association which accepts dogs surrendered by its
15 owner to be sheltered and adopted out shall maintain the form and shall
16 disclose it to any prospective adoptive owner or any other person who
17 may shelter or harbor the dog for any period of time after its surren-
18 der.
19 § 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
20 have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07168-01-3
