New York bans tattoos and piercings for pets

[Suzanimal]

What about ear cropping and tail docking?

New York pets already have to contend with being dressed up in embarrassing outfits by their owners, but thanks to a new law they won’t have to worry about getting any unwanted tattoos or piercings.

On Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a new bill into law that will prohibit residents from getting tattoos and piercings for their pets. The bill’s successful passage comes as lawmakers look to clamp down on painful procedures done to animals simply for cosmetic reasons.

When the law takes effect in 119 days, the only types of markings that will be allowed will have to be done in the presence of a veterinarian and must be specifically for health or identification purposes.

"This is animal abuse, pure and simple," Cuomo said. "I'm proud to sign this common-sense legislation and end these cruel and unacceptable practices in New York once and for all."

Those found to be in violation of the law will be subject to criminal penalties, including a fine of up to $250 and 15 days in jail.

“Though it may seem inconceivable that anyone would tattoo or pierce their dog or cat, a quick Internet search reveals that it is a growing trend among some misguided individuals,” said Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal to Reuters.

“Humans should not apply their own fashion sense in permanent harm and injury to their animals,” she added to the New York Daily News.

Rosenthal originally introduced the bill back in 2011, following the controversial news that a woman was selling "gothic" kittens with piercings on their bodies online. Photos on social networks depicting tattooed animals also sparked outrage.

"While people can decide whether they would like to undergo the pain associated with a tattoo or piercing, animals do not have that luxury," she said in a press release. "Subjecting animals to painful cosmetic procedures, such as tattooing and piercing, merely to satisfy an individual's misguided and selfish aesthetic predilections, is inhumane and should be considered cruelty by the law."

http://rt.com/usa/215035-new-york-pet-tattoos-piercing/

 

[Occam's Banana]

“Though it may seem inconceivable that anyone would tattoo or pierce their dog or cat, a quick Internet search reveals that it is a growing trend among some misguided individuals,” said Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal to Reuters.

Oh, great! So now they're using "quick Internet searches" to come up with ideas for things to put you in a cage for ...

 

[presence]

My country tis of thee, sweet land of FINES and JAILTIME

Whether I tattoo, crop, dock, pierce, cage, chain to tree, vaccinate, collar and tag, OR EAT my dog is NONE of the government's business.

 

[CaptUSA]

I'm sure they have some of these somewhere in NY...

Looks like dairy farmers are breaking a new law, now?

 

[presence]

I'm sure they have some of these somewhere in NY...


Looks like dairy farmers are breaking a new law, now?

There's an exemption for ear tags on farm animals. Not sure about bull rings. I'll see if I can stir up a copy of the new regulation.



My big question... what do you do w/ a tatooed pet that's "grandfathered" ???

 

[presence]

A00739 Text:


S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
739--D 2013-2014 Regular Sessions I N A S S E M B L Y (PREFILED) January 9, 2013
___________

Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, MOYA, COLTON, ENGLEBRIGHT, McDONOUGH, TEDISCO, TENNEY, MOSLEY, BROOK-KRASNY, TITONE, CUSICK, MALLIOTAKIS -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GALEF, GLICK, GOTTFRIED, PERRY
-- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
-- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
-- recommitted to the Committee on Agriculture in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2
-- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit- tee
-- again reported from said committee with amendments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
-- reported and referred to the Committee on Codes -- reported and referred to the Committee on Rules
-- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to prohib- iting piercing and tattooing of companion animals

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

1 Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new 2 section 353-f to read as follows:

3 S 353-F. COMPANION ANIMAL PIERCING AND TATTOOING PROHIBITED.

1. NO 4 PERSON SHALL PIERCE OR CAUSE TO HAVE PIERCED A COMPANION ANIMAL UNLESS 5 SUCH PIERCING PROVIDES A MEDICAL BENEFIT TO THE COMPANION ANIMAL. SUCH 6 PIERCING SHALL BE PERFORMED BY A LICENSED VETERINARIAN OR UNDER THE 7 SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED VETERINARIAN. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE 8 CONSTRUED TO APPLY TO EAR TAGS ON RABBITS AND CAVIES. 9

2. NO PERSON SHALL TATTOO OR CAUSE TO HAVE TATTOOED A COMPANION ANIMAL 10 UNLESS SUCH TATTOO: 11

(A) IS DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A MEDICAL PROCEDURE FOR THE BENEFIT OF 12 THE COMPANION ANIMAL AND TO INDICATE THAT SUCH MEDICAL PROCEDURE HAS 13 BEEN DONE, PROVIDED THAT SUCH TATTOO IS NOT FOR DESIGN PURPOSES; OR EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD05036-12-4 A. 739--D 2 1

(B) IS DONE FOR THE PURPOSE OF IDENTIFICATION OF THE COMPANION ANIMAL 2 AND NOT FOR DESIGN PURPOSES, AND SUCH TATTOO INCLUDES ONLY SUCH NUMBERS 3 AND/OR LETTERS ALLOTTED BY A CORPORATION THAT, IN THE REGULAR COURSE OF 4 ITS BUSINESS, MAINTAINS AN ANIMAL TATTOO IDENTIFICATION REGISTRY. 5

3. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "TATTOO" SHALL MEAN A MARK ON 6 THE BODY MADE WITH INDELIBLE INK OR PIGMENTS INJECTED BENEATH THE OUTER 7 LAYER OF THE SKIN. 8

4. TATTOOING DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A MEDICAL PROCEDURE FOR THE 9 BENEFIT OF A COMPANION ANIMAL THAT INDICATES THAT SUCH MEDICAL PROCEDURE 10 HAS BEEN DONE SHALL BE PERFORMED BY A LICENSED VETERINARIAN OR UNDER THE 11 SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED VETERINARIAN. 12

5. ANY PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY VIOLATES THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 13 SHALL BE GUILTY OF A VIOLATION PUNISHABLE PURSUANT TO THE PENAL LAW. 14 S 2.

This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after 15 it shall have become a law.

http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?de...&Actions=Y&Votes=Y&Memo=Y&Text=Y#jump_to_Text

 

[presence]

I suspect ear tags and bull rings on cattle would be exempt under "medical benefit"

ear cropping and tail docking

are already given breed specific exemptions in other NYS code; must be done by a licensed vet, etc.

 

[Suzanimal]

Oddly enough they didn't include tail docking and ear clipping. That's purely cosmetic too but I guess because it's mainstream it's okay.
Personally, I think it's dumb but I wouldn't want to see anyone fined or go to jail for it.

http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?de...&Actions=Y&Votes=Y&Memo=Y&Text=Y#jump_to_Text

 

[CaptUSA]

I suspect ear tags and bull rings on cattle would be exempt under "medical benefit"

I think it's what you define as a "companion" animal. Not sure pulling a bull around by its ring would provide it any medical benefit.

 

[presence]

I think it's what you define as a "companion" animal. Not sure pulling a bull around by its ring would provide it any medical benefit.

Nose rings are often required for bulls when exhibited at agricultural shows. [] Nose rings are also used to prevent pigs rooting, and to encourage the weaning of young calves and other livestock by discouraging them from suckling.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nose_ring_(animal)

Domestic milk calves are especially prone to suck their mother bloody if not chained/penned or wearing a nose ring.

As far as "pulling a bull around by its ring" providing medical benefit... in populated area controlling a bull by its ring is actually safer for all involved, including the bull.

 

[dannno]

So is it illegal in NJ and all the states surrounding NY, or are pet owners just going to have to take the subway to get their pets pierced and tattooed?

 

[presence]

So is it illegal in NJ and all the states surrounding NY, or are pet owners just going to have to take the subway to get their pets pierced and tattooed?

The way I'm reading it... mere "possession" of a tattooed/pierced pet is not an offense; so out of state and "grandfathered" wouldn't be an issue.

They're criminalizing the act.


From further reading... this whole thing came up in 2011 when someone in NY was advertising "gothic kittens" that had been tatted/pierced.

 

[CaptUSA]

You know, I never wanted a tattooed cat, but now I kinda seem to want one...

Funny how that works, eh?