State Senate approves ban on pet stores selling dogs, cats & rabbits, other bills

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — The New York State Senate Tuesday approved a package of bills aimed to give domesticated animals more protections.

The Assembly versions of most of the bills are still in committee.

Included in the package are:

• A Ban On Manufacture and Sale of Animal Tested Cosmetics that would fine companies up to $5,000 for their first violation and as much as $1,000 per day that violations continue.
• A bill that allows people to be charged with aggravated cruelty to animals for causing physical injury, removing the word "serious" from the language of the crime of aggravated cruelty to animals, so that even if the animal makes a full recovery, the person can be charged.
• A bill that requires landlords to inspect properties for abandoned animals within three days if they knew or should have known that a property has been vacated.
• A ban on the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits by retail pet shops in an attempt to interrupt the "puppy mill supply chain."
• The Insurance Discrimination by Dog Breed bill that prohibits insurance companies from excluding, limiting, restricting, or reducing coverage on an insurance policy for homeowners based on the breed of dog they own.
• A bill that requires veterinarians to provide more information to animal owners regarding the drugs dispensed to an animal.
• The Big Five African Trophies Act which prohibits the importation, transportation, and possession of lions, leopards, elephants, black and white rhinos, and giraffes species and products.

The Insurance Discrimination by Dog Breed bill and the bills requiring veterinarians to give pet owners more information about prescriptions have both passed in the Assembly as well. The next step is for them to be delivered to Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The State Senators involved with the package are almost entirely from the New York City area, except for one who represents the Capital Region.