Restricts the performance of surgical devocalization procedures on dogs and cats

Latest action May 11, 2026

Restricts the performance of surgical devocalization procedures on dogs and cats; prohibited for reasons of convenience in keeping or handling a dog or cat.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A8551, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Agriculture and Markets Law.

Committee

Agriculture · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Agriculture · New York State Senate, Codes · New York State Assembly, Codes · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

Section one of the bill amends the agriculture and markets law by adding a new 365-a restricting the practice of devocalizing a dog or cat. Section two of the bill relates to forfeiture of animals. Section three of the bill authorizes the commissioner of agriculture and markets and the commissioner of education to promulgate rules and regu- lations to enforce this section. Section four of the bill sets the effective date.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMay 5, 2026Result: passed
(62) (0) (0) (1)
Vote: Committee vote · Agriculture
Senate AgricultureMar 10, 2026Result: passed
(8) (0) (0) (1)
Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateApr 8, 2025Result: passed
(62) (0) (0) (1)
Vote: Committee vote · Agriculture
Senate AgricultureMar 18, 2025Result: passed
(9) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Angelo Santabarbara, Anthony H. Palumbo and 16 more on Agora

Democratic10
Republican8

Show all 18 on Agora

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Michael Gianaris says this is needed

Dogs and cats vocalize for a number of reasons. They use their voices to communicate to other animals and humans feelings of happiness, fear, playfulness, boredom, pain, or aggression. Vocalizing is also used to greet or warn others, or to gain attention. A person does an animal great physical and psychological harm when electing to have them devo- calized, which can result in problematic animal behaviors. Instead, there are therapies and other proven techniques which can help to manage this behavior without surgical intervention. Devocalization, also known as ventriculocordectomy, debarking, devoic- ing, or bark softening, is a surgical procedure which resects or removes tissues in the vocal cords of an animal. This is done to either muffle or eliminate the bark of a dog or meow of a cat. There are two approaches to the procedure; one which seeks to alter the vocal cords through the oral cavity, and another that does so directly onto the larynx. Each procedure imposes postoperative pain and potential compli- cations and can cause future respiratory issues in the animal. Often- times, the procedures result in only altering the voice or pitch of an animal's voice, instead of softening or eliminating it altogether. The animal may even resume a near-normal voice within several months of the procedure. Although devocalization has been used to stop the excessive vocalization of dogs and cats, the underlying issues that cause this behavior remain. Devocalization has been restricted to medically necessary circumstances by statute in Massachusetts and New Jersey and has been similarly outlawed in many other countries including the United Kingdom, Greece, and Sweden.

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.

Full history

May 11, 2026
Ordered to Third Reading CAL.465
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.465
NY Assembly
May 11, 2026
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED FOR A8551
NY Assembly
May 7, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading CAL.465
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.465
NY Assembly
May 5, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
May 5, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate

Show full history (17 earlier events)

May 5, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
May 5, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED
NY Assembly
Mar 31, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
Mar 12, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Mar 11, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Mar 10, 2026
1ST Report CAL.515
1ST REPORT CAL.515
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Died in Assembly
DIED IN ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE
NY Assembly
May 20, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE
NY Assembly
Apr 8, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Apr 8, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Apr 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE
NY Assembly
Mar 20, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Mar 19, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Mar 18, 2025
1ST Report CAL.577
1ST REPORT CAL.577
NY Senate
Jan 23, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE
NY Senate

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 22, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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