Grisanti Sponsored Bill Would Ban Pet Tattoo And Piercings

The month of April is Animal Cruelty Prevention Month.

"This practice needs to stop," said Senator Grisanti. "Animals do not have the ability to make decisions on whether or not to get a tattoo or body piercing, but we as human beings can do the right thing and make it illegal for pet owners to tattoos or pierce their pets."

According to the language of the bill (S.6769), body piercing of a pet would only be allowed for medical purposes, while animal tattoos would only be permitted if it is determined a permanent mark on the skin is needed for a medical benefit or would be used strictly for identification purposes. Violations would carry fines of up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

"I believe that if given the choice, animals would decline to having themselves undergo a painful procedure of being either tattooed or pierced," said Senator Grisanti. "On a number of different levels, this practice is a selfish act by a pet owner. No matter how you look at it, this is animal cruelty and we must do what we can to protect our dogs, cats and other pets from being put through that type of discomfort."

The bill, which has the support of the Humane Society of New York and various other animal rights organizations in the state, is another example of Senator Grisanti's ongoing efforts to give who he calls our "four-legged friends" a voice in Albany. Over the past three years, Senator Grisanti has advocated for legislation that protects pets and punishes animal abusers, including the creation of an animal abuser central registry,"Phoenix's Law" and the newly enacted law which gives localities the power regulate Puppy Mills across New York State.