Provides for the inspection of property that has been vacated or abandoned for abandoned companion animals.
Summary
This bill would amend the Agriculture and Markets Law to require owners or lessors of certain properties that have been vacated because of eviction, foreclosure, forfeiture, mortgage default, land contract default, or abandonment to inspect the property for abandoned animals within three days after they knew or should have known the property was vacated. If an abandoned animal is found, the owner, lessor, or their designee must immediately notify a dog control officer, police officer, or an authorized animal cruelty society representative so the animal can be retrieved or cared for promptly.
The bill also states that a property owner, lessor, or designee who encounters an abandoned animal under these circumstances is not deemed to be the animal’s owner or custodian. Violations would carry civil penalties of up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for each subsequent offense, with collected funds deposited into the animal population control fund. The measure takes effect immediately.
Impact
The bill would create a new statutory duty for certain property owners and lessors in New York to inspect vacated properties for abandoned companion animals and to report any such animals to law enforcement or animal welfare authorities. It would add enforcement provisions and civil penalties to the Agriculture and Markets Law, while preserving existing authority for police and societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals to enforce animal cruelty and abandonment laws. The bill primarily affects landlords, property owners, foreclosure and eviction-related property holders, and animal control and rescue agencies.
Sentiment
The available record shows the bill was introduced and referred to the Assembly Committee on Agriculture, but there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided. Based on the bill’s text and caption, the measure appears to be framed as an animal welfare and public safety proposal intended to prevent abandoned animals from being left without care after a property is vacated. Because there is no recorded debate or vote history in the provided materials, no clear support or opposition can be identified from legislative discussion.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the burden placed on property owners and lessors, who would be required to inspect vacated properties quickly and could face civil penalties for noncompliance. Another possible issue is how the duty would operate in practice in eviction, foreclosure, or abandonment situations, including what constitutes knowledge that a property has been vacated and what level of inspection is sufficient. Supporters would likely emphasize animal protection and prompt intervention, while critics might focus on enforcement ambiguity, liability concerns, and administrative burden.
Relates to the inspection of property that has been vacated for abandoned animals; requires property owners and lessors to inspect such property within three days and to immediately notify the appropriate authorities when such person finds an animal which appears to be abandoned.
Provides that the penalty for the abandonment of animals is a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, or by both.
Requires municipal accounting of abandoned properties before receiving certain State aid; establishes State database of abandoned properties; requires owners of abandoned properties to document rehabilitation efforts.