Governor Cuomo Signs Lanza’s Bill To Keep Our Pets Safe During A State Of Emergency

“I want to thank Governor Cuomo for signing this bill into law. During Superstorm Sandy, hundreds of pets were lost or abandoned and many pet owners refused to evacuate because they could not take their companion animals with them to safety. This law will help ensure that the lives of residents, defenseless pets and emergency personnel struggling to assist with evacuations are not unnecessarily jeopardized. I also would like to thank Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal for her efforts in leading this bill to become law.” Senator Lanza 

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation (S.2589/A.2145 – Chapter 378 of the Laws of 2017) sponsored by Senator Andrew Lanza to allow owners to take their companion animals on public transportation if a state of emergency is declared.

This new law would allow owners to take companion animals on public transportation during an official government declared state of emergency, so long as the animal is under the owner’s control (tether, leash, “appropriate container” or “other suitable means”) and the boarding is consistent with local emergency management plans. The law applies to owners who are evacuating the region that is affected by an emergency.

Senator Lanza said, “I want to thank Governor Cuomo for signing this bill into law. During Superstorm Sandy, hundreds of pets were lost or abandoned and many pet owners refused to evacuate because they could not take their companion animals with them to safety. This law will help ensure that the lives of residents, defenseless pets and emergency personnel struggling to assist with evacuations are not unnecessarily jeopardized. I also would like to thank Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal for her efforts in leading this bill to become law.”

The law does allow for a domestic animal to be refused on public transportation if there is a health or safety hazard. Passengers with service animals will be provided priority seating and passengers must be given seating before a companion animal is given a seat.