BILL NUMBER: S8084A
SPONSOR: HARCKHAM
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to estab-
lishing an animal abuser registry
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to protect animals and prevent cruelty by
establishing a publicly accessible Animal Abuser Registry in New York
State. This registry would list individuals convicted of certain animal
abuse crimes, helping law enforcement agencies, animal shelters, pet
stores, and breeders avoid transferring or selling animals to known
abusers.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends Section 403 of the Agriculture and Markets Law by
adding a new subdivision 12 requiring license issuers to conduct back-
ground checks on all applicants and licensees against the newly estab-
lished animal abuser registry. Licenses may not be issued or renewed for
individuals listed in the registry.
Section 2 amends subdivision 3 of Section 403 to maintain the license
fee structure and thresholds for pet dealers but does not alter the fee
exception for those who sell fewer than 25 animals per year.
Section 3 amends subdivision 5 and adds a new subdivision 8 to Section
421 of the Agriculture and Markets Law to require background checks
against the animal abuser registry for animal shelter license applicants
and renewals, and prohibit licenses for individuals on the registry.
Section 4 adds a new Section 353-g to the Agriculture and Markets Law
establishing a publicly accessible statewide Animal Abuser Registry,
maintained by the Division of Criminal justice Services (DCJS). Defines
who qualifies as an animal abuser, outlines mandatory registration
requirements and procedures, including annual renewals for up to seven
years or for life in cases of repeat offenses. Specifies that failure
to comply is a class E felony. Mandates sheriff offices to publicize
registry access and to notify local animal-related businesses and organ-
izations of abuser registrations within a half-mile radius. Prohibits
the sale or transfer of animals to anyone listed on the registry.
Section 5 sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation aims to protect animals from known abusers by estab-
lishing a statewide Animal Abuser Registry and prohibiting individuals
listed on the registry from obtaining licenses to operate pet-related
businesses or shelters. Currently, New York does not mandate any back-
ground checks for individuals applying for a pet dealer or breeder
license. This glaring gap in oversight allows individuals with a history
of animal cruelty to continue operating legally within the system, often
without scrutiny.
This is not a hypothetical risk. In April 2025, the owner of a Bedford
jennel was arrested for animal cruelty for the second time, following an
investigation by the SPCA that uncovered severely neglected and
mistreated animals in her care. 1 Despite a prior conviction, she was
still able to continue operating a pet-related business underscoring the
system's current failure in preventing known abusers from reoffending.
In Westchester County, multiple disturbing cases have emerged in recent
years that underscore the urgent need for reform. In May 2025, a
75-year-old man from Bohemia, New York, was charged with 18 misdemeanor
counts of animal cruelty and neglect after authorities discovered nearly
100 cats in his home, including about two dozen dead kittens stored in a
freezer.' The Suffolk County SPCA reported that 69 surviving cats, many
suffering from serious medical conditions like respiratory infections
and eye diseases, were rescued from the severely unsanitary property. 1
In a separate incident, a Port Chester man was arrested after SPCA
investigators reviewed a disturbing video showing him kicking a cat in
the face. 1 He was charged following an investigation by the SPCA's
Humane Law Enforcement Unit.. These cases are just a few examples of a
broader pattern in which individuals exploit lax oversight to profit
from breeding and selling animals, often at the animals' expense.
In 2019, Attorney General Letitia James reached a settlement with West-
chester Puppies & Kittens, a pet store accused of deceptive advertising
about the health and wellness of animals it sold. Despite marketing
claims, many of the animals had significant, untreated medical issues,
highlighting the consequences of weak enforcement and inadequate over-
sight in the animal sales industry. 1
These cases reflect broader systemic failures. Without a registry or
required background checks, individuals with serious cruelty convictions
can continue to obtain licenses and operate unchecked. Animal shelters,
breeders, and pet stores currently lack a central tool to vet prospec-
tive adopters, employees, or business partners, placing vulnerable
animals at continued risk.
In addition to safeguarding animal welfare, the legislation advances
public safety. Numerous studies demonstrate the strong correlation
between animal abuse and other forms of interpersonal violence, includ-
ing domestic violence and child abuse. A publicly accessible Animal
Abuser Registry will help prevent repeat offenses and provide transpar-
ency to communities, shelters, and enforcement agencies. This bill also
empowers local stakeholders by requiring law enforcement to notify
animal-related businesses and facilities when a registered abuser
resides nearby. It closes critical loopholes and equips the state with
the tools needed to monitor and respond to cruelty effectively.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law; provided, however, that the amendments to
subdivision 3 of section 403 of the agriculture and markets law made by
section two of this act and the amendments to section 421 of the agri-
culture and markets law made by section three of this act shall take
effect on the same date and in the same manner as chapter 683 of the
laws of 2022, takes effect.
1 https://www.lohud.com/story/
news/local/westchester/bedford/2024/07/18/ bedford-ny-rescue-right-
atnorthwind-kennels-founder-arrested- for-animal-cruelty/ 74453643007/
https://apnews.com/article/cats-cruelty-arrest-new-
york4120cd8a9bt80f6d4c996bd888c553b8
3 Id.
4 https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/port-chester/
2025/05/07/port-chester-ny-man-arrested-for-animalcruelty-
after-injuring-cat-spca-westchester-says/83495208007/
5 https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2019/ attorney-general-jamesannounces-
settlement-westchester-pet-store- over-deceptive
Statutes affected: S8084: 403 agriculture and markets law, 403(3) agriculture and markets law, 421 agriculture and markets law, 421(5) agriculture and markets law
S8084A: 403 agriculture and markets law, 403(3) agriculture and markets law, 421 agriculture and markets law, 421(5) agriculture and markets law