NY Asse mbly Codes Committee
AKC is supporting a bill in the Assembly Codes committees regarding penalties for pet theft. In particular, the AKC appreciates that these bills not only criminalize this practice, but also include this new language in the same section of code as other property. This is especially important as bills in the Assembly and Senate Judiciary Committees would potentially elevate the legal status of animals, which could have long- term consequences for dogs and responsible owners.
AKC is supporting the following bill:
• Assembly Bill 2553 – This is a bill the AKC has supported over the past several years, and for the most part it has advanced further each year it has been introduced. Current New York law declares that theft of certain property is grand larceny in the fourth degree. This bill expands this to include a dog or cat taken from a dwelling, enclosure, or yard on the property of the owner or someone who is a lawful custodian harboring the dog (meaning someone who is legally providing the dog with food and shelter).
Clearly defining pets as property ensures that responsible dog owners and breeders in New York who are victims of pet theft at their residence or private property are entitled to the same protections and compensations as other property owners whose property is stolen. This clarification also ensures that criminals who steal pets can be held accountable for their crime.
Assembly Codes Committee Contact Information:
Joseph R. Lentol, Chair (Brooklyn) District Phone: 718-383-7474 Albany Phone: 518-455-4477 Email form
Thomas J. Abinanti (Tarrytown) District Office: 914-631-1605 Albany Office: 518-455-5753 [email protected]
Vivian E. Cook (Jamaica) District Phone: 718-322-3975 Albany Phone: 518-455-4203 Email: [email protected]
Steven Cymbrowitz (Brooklyn) District Phone: 718-743-4078 Albany Phone: 518-455-5214 Email form
Patricia Fahy (Albany) Albany Office: 518-455-4178 [email protected]
Andrew R. Garbarino (Bayport) District Phone: 631-589-0348 Albany Phone: 518-455-4611 Email: [email protected]
Joseph M. Giglio (Olean) District Phone: 716-373-7103 Albany Phone: 518-455-5241 Email: [email protected]
Andrew Hevesi (Forest Hills) District Phone: 718-263-5595 Albany Phone: 518-455-4926 Email form
Charles D. Lavine (Glen Cove) District Office: 516-676-0050 Albany Office: 518-455-5456 [email protected]
Michael Montesano (Hicksville) District Office: 516-937-3571 Albany Office: 518-455-4684 [email protected]
Angelo J. Morinello (Niagara Falls) District Phone: 716-282-6062 Albany Phone: 518-455-5284 Email: [email protected]
Walter T. Mosley (Brooklyn) District Office: 718-596-0100 Albany Office: 518-455-5325 Email: [email protected]
Daniel J. O’Donnell (Manhattan) District Office: 212-866-3970 Albany Office: 518-455-5603 [email protected]
Anthony H. Palumbo (Riverhead) District Office: 631-727-0204 Albany Office: 518-455-5294 [email protected]
N. Nick Perry (Brooklyn) District Phone: 718-385-3336 Albany Phone: 518-455-4166 Email form
J. Gary Pretlow (Mt. Vernon) District Phone: 914-667-0127 Albany Phone: 518-455-5291 Email form
Edward P. Ra (Garden City) District Phone: 516-535-4095 Albany Phone: 518-455-4627 Email: [email protected]
Linda Rosenthal (Manhattan) District Office: 212-873-6368 Albany Office: 518-455-5802 Email: [email protected]
Robin Schimminger (Kenmore) District Phone: 716-873-2540 Albany Phone: 518-455-4767 Email: [email protected]
Rebecca A. Seawright (Manhattan, Roosevelt Island) District Phone: 212-288-4607 Albany Phone: 518-455-5676 Email: [email protected]
David I. Weprin (Fresh Meadows) District Office: 718-454-3027 Albany Office: 518-455-5806 [email protected]
Kenneth Zebrowski (New City) District Office: 845-634-9791 Albany Office: 518-455-5735 [email protected]