Increases the penalty of knowingly violating the provisions relating to the appropriate shelter for dogs from a violation to a misdemeanor

• Republican1

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Monica Martinez says this is needed

To many residents that call New York home, dogs are family. They provide physical and mental health benefits such as reducing stress, anxiety and depression while encouraging healthy habits like daily exercise, routine and accountability. Dogs are sentient beings that experience a range of emotions including pain, and the cognitive ability to potentially assist the nearly 60 million people nationwide with disabilities.1 Like any living being, dogs require adequate shelter for their size, weight, breed and overall health and wellness. While some breeds may be conducive to outdoor living, all dogs require insulation from extreme weather conditions, a hygienic space free from trash or excretions with the ability to move and stretch, fresh water and food. Failure to provide appropriate shelter can jeopardize the health of the dog and inflict unnecessary pain and suffering. Current law prescribes that knowingly failing to provide adequate shel- ter for a dog result in a violation of not less than fifty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars for the first offense, and a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than two hundred fifty dollars for a second and subsequent offenses. This bill aims to reduce the number of dogs being kept in unsafe conditions by increasing the penalty to a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year of imprisonment or a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars. This initiative supplements the states continued commitment to ensuring the safety of animals we co-exist with, demonstrating zero tolerance for animal neglect, abuse or abandonment.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.