NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4553
SPONSOR: Miller TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to aggra-
vated neglect of a companion animal
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Creates the crime of Aggravated Neglect of a Companion Animal.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 creates new law, Section 355-a of the Agriculture and Markets
law. This section creates the crime of Aggravated Neglect of a Companion
Animal. Aggravated Neglect relates to companion animals subjected to
cruelty where the owner has not taken reasonable steps to locate and
provide reasonable care for the animal. Section 1 also creates the
penalty for Aggravated neglect which is a felony.
Section 2 contains the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill is named after Apollo, a 3 year old pit bull who was left
abandoned, tied to a picnic table in subzero temperatures. Although,
animals being abandoned in subzero temperatures is rare, animal abandon-
ment is a regular occurrence.
This bill looks to strengthen the penalties for cruelty, neglect, and
abandonment of companion animals.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2020 referred to agriculture 2020 held for consideration in agriculture
2021 referred to agriculture
2022: A4793; referred to agriculture 2022 held for consideration in
agriculture
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
