* § 423. Recordkeeping and protocols. 1. Each animal shelter shall
examine an animal upon intake for unique identifiers and any other form
of identification that may allow for reunification with an owner, as
prescribed in sections one hundred seventeen and three hundred
eighty-two of this chapter.

2. Each animal shelter shall create and maintain a record for each
animal in their custody or possession which shall minimally include:

(a) Unique identifiers and any other identification associated with
the animal upon examination at entry, including but not limited to a
tattoo, a permanent official identification number as prescribed in
section one hundred twelve of this chapter or other identification tags,
rabies tags and numbers, or a microchip number, if present;

(b) The name, address and telephone number of the person surrendering
an animal or from whom an animal is seized, and additional contact
information as the commissioner may require, or the address or
cross-streets and city, town, or village where the animal was located or
found prior to intake, if known;

(c) The date of intake into and departure from the animal shelter;

(d) Whether the animal was adopted, transferred, redeemed by its
owner, died or was humanely euthanized, and, if applicable, the name,
address, and phone number of the receiving individual or agency;

(e) Basic descriptors including species, age, gender, physical
description including color, and the spay or neuter status at entry if
determinable with reasonable certainty;

(f) Any available behavioral or health history or information
otherwise obtained at intake, including bite history and rabies
vaccination status, when known; and

(g) All veterinary and behavioral examinations, treatments,
procedures, or medications occurring during the animal's time under the
care of the shelter.

3. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation to the
contrary, records for each animal shall be maintained for not less than
three years from the date of animal departure.

4. Previous bite history shall be fully disclosed in writing to an
adopter, transfer partner, or reclaiming owner and provided in any
reports regarding the animal, as applicable.

5. Nothing in this section shall preclude or otherwise supersede
record disclosure requirements prescribed in section sixty-seven hundred
fourteen of the education law, or any requirement regarding the
creation, maintenance, or retention of veterinary medical records in
state or federal law or veterinary practice guideline.

6. Each animal shelter shall maintain a record of its designated
foster care providers that shall include the written agreement
established between such animal shelter and such providers pursuant to
section four hundred thirty-two of this article, each provider's name,
address, telephone number, email address if available, types of animals
for which the provider is willing to provide care, inspection reports,
and current number of animals in the care of a designated foster care
provider. Such records shall be updated immediately in the event any
contact information for a given foster care provider changes.

7. Each animal shelter shall maintain summary records of their total
annual animal intake and dispositions by species, by source of intake,
and by type of disposition. Such records shall be made available to the
commissioner upon request. The commissioner shall make such records
available to the public upon request pursuant to article six of the
public officers law.

8. Each animal shelter shall develop and maintain written protocols
sufficiently detailed to achieve and maintain the standards prescribed
in this section. These shall include, but not be limited to, the
following:

(a) animal handling;

(b) behavioral assessment;

(c) enrichment and stress reduction;

(d) management of bite/scratch cases; and

(e) sanitation.

9. Each animal shelter shall also develop and maintain the following
written protocols, approved by a duly licensed veterinarian and
sufficiently detailed to achieve and maintain the standards prescribed
in this article:

(a) nutrition and feeding;

(b) physical examination;

(c) emergency veterinary care;

(d) pain management;

(e) vaccinations;

(f) parasite control;

(g) anesthesia and surgery, if performed on-site by the organization;

(h) humane euthanasia; and

(i) outbreak management/control of infectious diseases.

10. Protocols established by each animal shelter pursuant to this
section shall be reviewed annually and updated as necessary by
designated administrative and managerial staff. Such protocols shall be
made readily accessible to appropriate staff and volunteers.

* NB Effective December 15, 2025