BILL NUMBER: S5203
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the
judicial process relating to a dog that caused death to a companion
animal, farm animal or domestic animal while trespassing on property
 
PURPOSE OF THE BILL:
This bill would clarify the circumstances by which a judge may order
humane euthanasia or permanent confinement of a dangerous dog which
caused the death of another animal.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill amends section 123 of the agriculture and
markets law as it relates to clarifying the circumstances by which a
judge may order humane euthanasia or permanent confinement of a danger-
ous dog to include where a dog, without justification and while tres-
passing on another person's property, caused the death of an animal.
Section two of the bill relates to the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill would clarify the circumstances that a dog can be subject to
humane euthanasia to instances where another companion animal was killed
while trespassing on a property. Currently, humane euthanasia is only an
option for a judge where a dangerous dog previously injured or killed
another animal within the past two years. There was a tragic incident in
Rockland County where a dog came into a neighbor's property and killed
their dog; a situation where the attack is clearly unjustified.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate
2021-2022: S6484, Referred to agriculture
Assembly
A10013 of 2020
2021-2022: A341, Referred to agriculture
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become law.