Provides that companion animals, as sentient beings, shall be considered victims of animal cruelty crimes, including but not limited to all offenses as defined in article twenty-six of the agriculture and markets law, and shall be treated as such in a court of law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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9569
IN SENATE
March 25, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. MARTINEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to companion animals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new article 243 to
2 read as follows:
3 ARTICLE 243
4 COMPANION ANIMALS
5 Section 243.00 Companion animals are sentient beings.
6 § 243.00 Companion animals are sentient beings.
7 1. Companion animals, including dogs, cats, and such other animals as
8 defined in section three hundred fifty of the agriculture and markets
9 law, are sentient beings capable of experiencing pain, stress, and fear,
10 as well as love and affection, and are entitled to respect and consider-
11 ation, protection from abuse, neglect, and cruelty, and the maximization
12 of their welfare. For that reason, such companion animals shall be
13 considered victims of animal cruelty crimes, including but not limited
14 to all offenses as defined in article twenty-six of the agriculture and
15 markets law, and shall be treated as such in a court of law.
16 2. Nothing in this section shall be construed to reduce any
17 protections afforded to any animal under any other provision of law,
18 rule or regulation or article twenty-six of the agriculture and markets
19 law.
20 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15142-02-6
