Provides that failure to provide shelter to animals is an act of cruelty to animals
This bill amends section 353 of the Agriculture and Markets Law to make clear that failing to provide shelter to an animal is an act of cruelty. The current cruelty statute already prohibits overdriving, torturing, injuring, and depriving animals of necessary sustenance, food, or drink; this bill adds “shelter” throughout those prohibitions so that neglecting or refusing to furnish shelter is expressly covered. The bill also makes conforming wording changes from gendered terms to neutral terms such as “such person” and “such commissioner.”
The bill would expand the scope of New York’s animal cruelty law by explicitly including shelter as a basic necessity, alongside food and water. As a result, individuals who fail to provide adequate shelter to animals could be prosecuted under the same Class A misdemeanor penalty that applies to other forms of cruelty under section 353. The measure does not alter the existing exceptions for properly conducted scientific tests, experiments, or investigations involving animals in approved laboratories, nor does it change the state health commissioner’s oversight of those facilities.
Overall sentiment appears supportive and straightforward, with the bill framed as a clarifying animal welfare measure rather than a controversial policy shift. The caption and text suggest a broad humane-protection purpose, and there is no recorded vote or committee debate indicating organized opposition or division at this stage. Its placement in the Assembly Agriculture Committee suggests it is still in the early legislative process.
The main point of contention, if any, would likely concern how “shelter” is defined and enforced in practice, including what conditions qualify as inadequate shelter for different species, seasons, and housing situations. Animal welfare advocates would likely support the bill as closing a gap in cruelty law, while owners, farmers, or others responsible for animals may be attentive to whether the standard is applied reasonably and consistently. No specific objections are recorded in the available materials.
The bill would amend the Agriculture and Markets Law to expressly include failure to provide shelter as animal cruelty under section 353, making that omission punishable as a Class A misdemeanor. It would broaden the conduct covered by New York’s animal cruelty statute and could affect pet owners, livestock owners, shelters, and others responsible for animal care, while leaving existing laboratory and scientific-use exceptions intact.
The available materials suggest generally favorable sentiment toward the bill. It is presented as a humane-protection and clarification measure, and there are no recorded votes, amendments, or committee objections in the provided history. The absence of debate indicates little visible controversy at this stage, though the bill has only been introduced and referred to committee.
The likely area of contention is not the principle of protecting animals, but the practical meaning of “shelter” and how enforcement would work across different animal settings. Questions could arise about minimum shelter standards, weather-related requirements, and whether the law could be applied too broadly to farmers, breeders, or pet owners. No specific opposing arguments are documented in the provided transcript or vote history.