Prohibits the docking of dog tails for reasons other than to protect the life or health of the dog as deemed necessary by a duly licensed veterinarian; does not apply to dogs that have been certified as tail docked prior to August 1, 2015.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3374
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GLICK, COLTON, DINOWITZ, PAULIN, ROSENTHAL --
Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GOTTFRIED -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to making
tail docking of dogs unlawful
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new
2 section 365-a to read as follows:
3 § 365-a. Docking dog tails; unlawful. 1. Any person who cuts the bone,
4 tissues, muscles or tendons of the tail of any dog, or otherwise oper-
5 ates upon it in any manner for the purpose or with the effect of docking
6 or otherwise altering the natural carriage or length of the tail, or
7 assists, procures, promotes or encourages such cutting or operation for
8 reasons other than to protect the life or health of the dog as deemed
9 necessary by a duly licensed veterinarian, is guilty of a misdemeanor
10 punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars.
11 2. Any person who shows or exhibits a dog, the tail of which has been
12 cut, altered or operated upon in the manner referred to in subdivision
13 one of this section, at a show or other exhibition in this state or who
14 encourages, procures or sponsors such an exhibition, is guilty of a
15 misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars.
16 3. Any dog owner who is injured or damaged in any way by a violation
17 of the foregoing provisions of this section, or any New York animal
18 rights organization, may institute and maintain in the supreme court of
19 this state a private right of action, including a proceeding for a
20 declaratory judgment, to obtain redress for such injury or violation.
21 4. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any dog or person
22 who is the owner or possessor of any dog whose tail has been certified
23 as having been docked, cut or altered prior to August first, two thou-
24 sand fifteen.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03860-01-5
A. 3374 2
1 § 2. This act shall take effect August 1, 2015; provided, however, if
2 this act shall become a law after such date it shall take effect imme-
3 diately and shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect on and
4 after August 1, 2015.