Senator Ball's Legislation To Require Animal Abusers To Pay For Care of Seized Animals Becomes Law

Senator Greg Ball (R, C, I – Patterson) has announced that his legislation (S2665B), a bill that will require animal abusers to pay for the cost of care for abused animals that have been seized, has been signed by the Governor and will now become law.

Following the recent reports of animal cruelty statewide, Senator Ball said this legislation couldn’t come at a better time.

“It seems as though weekly we are disturbed by even more heinous accounts of animal cruelty. These reports are heartbreaking and underline the exact need for this new law. This law will now enable courts to hold hearings to compensate impounding organizations for their services, which will in turn help continue to provide care to abused animals,” said Senator Greg Ball. “I would like to thank my colleagues in the Senate and Assembly for supporting this important piece of legislation to hold those that abuse animals accountable. Along with child predators, animal abusers are some of the lowest forms of human life. I would like to thank Governor Cuomo for signing this bill into law today. Let us remember that those who commit crimes against animals often expand their carnage to their neighbors and the larger community.”

Often in cases of animal cruelty, a law enforcement agent seizes animals. Afterward, housing and care for these animals must be found. Historically, organizations such as shelters, humane societies, societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals and rescue organizations have assisted law enforcement by providing care for these animals. Such organizations have provided services often with little or no reimbursement.

The financial burden of caring for many animals, often for lengthy periods of time, is forcing some organizations to decline assisting law enforcement, refusing to place seized animals. Where there is no organization to care for seized animals, law enforcement is less likely to conduct seizures and animals remain in abusive situations and conditions.

The legislation was sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, (D-Scarsdale).

“These people have abused these animals and that is horrible in and of itself. They should be punished to the greatest extent of the law because of what they have done. In addition, they need to be financially responsible and must shoulder the burden monetarily to provide the resources that will allow these poor animals to be nursed back to health,” said Assemblywoman Paulin.

“All too often those housing seized animals are punished for taking in animals involved in cases of animal cruelty. This new law will allow these organizations, that are often overcrowded and underfunded, to recoup a reasonable cost for the care of these animals. I would like to thank Senator Greg Ball for spearheading this legislation along with a host of other laws that ultimately aid in the prevention of animal cruelty,” said Chief Ken Ross of the Putnam County SPCA Humane Law Enforcement Department.

“Several long-standing deficiencies in our state’s law have unfairly burdened animal shelters who provide an invaluable service caring for victims of animal abuse,” said Bill Ketzer, Senior Legislative Director for the ASPCA’s Northeast region. “This legislation will provide stronger support for shelters in need to continue providing emergency care to animals while the corresponding criminal cases develop. The ASPCA thanks Senator Ball for his work on this bill, and we applaud Governor Cuomo for signing this important measure into law.”

“Shelters are already very overcrowded and underfunded. Any help they can get to care for these animals is well needed,” said Lisa Giordano, Mahopac resident and Chairwoman of Senator Greg Ball’s Animal Advisory Council. “I salute Senator Ball for working on this law and others to protect our furry little friends. I would also like to thank the Governor and the rest of the legislature for approving this law.”

Although New York’s current security posting law is intended to alleviate some of the financial burden on agencies and organizations, it does not always achieve that result. Currently, security posting is discretionary and courts sometimes do not require it, even when the requisite burden of proof has been met. Impounding organizations, currently, must file a petition to obtain a security posting. Often, however, they do not have legal counsel and are unaware that they have the option to seek a security posting.

Senator Greg Ball has also recently passed legislation through the Senate (S2305A) that, would require those that violate Buster’s Law, by abusing an animal, register his or her name and address to a public registry, undergo a psychiatric evaluation and prevent them from owning a pet again.