SENATE PASSES BILL TO PREVENT ANIMAL ABANDONMENT

    The New York State Senate today passed a bill (S410) sponsored by Senator Carl L. Marcellino (R, Syosset) to protect animals and prevent their abandonment. The measure would increase the penalties for owners who abandon their animals and jeopardize their health and safety.

    Senator Marcellino said, “Incidents of animal abandonment are growing. We read about them far too often. Individuals are choosing to walk  away from their pets for financial reasons or simply because they are classless and heartless people who don’t care what happens to the animals after they abandon them. The penalty needs to match the seriousness of the crime.” 

    Several recent cases of dogs abandoned in freezing cold weather have occurred this winter, including a dog who’s paws had frozen to the ground in New York City’s Prospect Park, and a dog left tied to a pole along a busy roadway in Albany on a frigid night. This bill would increase the punishment for abandonment of animals to a maximum sentence of one year in jail or $2,000 or both – up from a sentence of one year or $1,000 fine or both.

    The bill has been sent to the Assembly.