The New York state legislature is taking up a heap of dog legislation this year, the New York Times reported on June 12.
What new rules are lawmakers proposing for dogs and their owners?
- Allowing therapy dogs on public transportation.
- Redefining what is a "dangerous dog" to one that injures or kills another dog or domesticated animal.
- Prohibiting insurers from denying home/renters insurance because someone owns a specific breed of dog, say, a pit-bull.
- Allowing dogs in restaurants' outdoor spaces.
- Increasing the fine for the abandoning your animal to up to $2,000.
- Establishing a tax credit for the adopting a dog or cat.
- Authorizing the use and training of dogs for bear hunting.
- Creating a public animal cruelty registration, where violators of "Buster's Law" are named (and perhaps publicly shamed?).
- Making the theft of a pet a serious crime, and making it a crime to leave a pet locked in a hot car.
These various bills were reported upon in the Times article on June 12.
Let's throw lawmakers a bone!
