Avella Bill Penalizing Dog Owners Who Fail to Provide Appropriate Shelter to a Dog Left Outdoors Passes Senate

Queens, NY – This afternoon, State Senator Tony Avella’s legislation increasing the penalties for dog owners failing to provide appropriate shelter to a dog left outdoors unanimously passed the Senate.

The legislation, which has received support from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), New York State Animal Protection Federation, and The League of Humane Voters of New York, has passed the Senate each year since it was introduced in 2016. Unfortunately, the Assembly has yet to move it out of the Agriculture Committee. 

Currently, the penalty for failure to provide adequate shelter for dogs left outdoors is a fine of $50 to $100 for the first offense and $100 to $250 for the second offense.

Senator Avella’s legislation would increase the penalties to $100 to $250 for the first offense, $250 to $500 for the second offense, and up to $1000 for a third violation.

“The current law lacks sufficient penalties to provide adequate shelter for dogs left outdoors. Increasing the monetary fines for this harmful act would create a more efficient deterrent to violating this law. Our state needs to provide guidance and assurance that dogs have adequate protection while outdoors. My bill will also provide law enforcement with the tools they need in order to enforce this law and protect dogs from being neglected in this manner,” said Senator Avella.