Senator Bonacic Supports Animal Advocacy Day in Albany

(Albany, NY)- Senator John J. Bonacic (R/C/I-Mt. Hope) joined colleagues, law enforcement officials and hundreds of pet owners and advocates at the annual Animal Advocacy Day in Albany yesterday. The annual event raises awareness and brings attention to important issues facing animals in New York State. The Senate also took action today on several pieces of legislation to protect animals, and increase penalties on those who abuse them.

The bills passed yesterday, which Senator Bonacic supported, include:

- S98A, would require certain university research facilities who use dogs and cats for research purposes to offer them for adoption through private placement or a non-profit animal rescue and shelter organizations.

- S7394A, would extend protections to the pets of victims of domestic abuse by giving the court discretion to forbid contact between the abuser and any pet that is cared for by the victim.

- S1795, would make it a misdemeanor if anyone allows a minor under the age of 16 years old to witness or attend an animal fighting event. This crime would be punishable by imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

- S3451, would prevent animal abuse by raising the penalty for subsequent acts of cruelty (i.e torturing, killing, or failing to provide sustenance to an animal) which occur within five years of a prior Class E felony conviction.

- S4877, would require municipalities to try and notify owners of a deceased animal if the death occurred on a highway. Under the provisions of this bill, if the animal has a tag with the family’s contact information, a license number, or has a identification chip to scan, the state should make a reasonable attempt to notify the family using the contact information/chip registration as well as the issuer of the license.

- S2102, would increase the penalties for keeping a companion animal in a vehicle during times of extreme hot or cold temperatures without proper ventilation or other protection. Extreme temperatures can put animals in imminent danger of death or serious physical injury. This measure would be punishable by an increased fine of $250-$500 for the first offense (raised from $50-$100), and $500-$1,000 for a second and subsequent violations (raised from $100-$250).

- S79, would prohibit people who are convicted of animal cruelty from working in positions that place them in direct control of animal care, such as animal shelters.

- S6264, would exempt dog license fees for deployed active military members’ dogs.