New York
Updates about legal issues facing animals in the state
The Animal Legal Defense Fund works at the federal, state, territory, and local levels to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals.
Animal Protection Laws Ranking
Each year, the Animal Legal Defense Fund publishes its U.S. Animal Protection Laws Ranking Report. Each state is ranked based on 20 different categories of animal protection.
New York
Overall Rank: #29 (Middle Tier)
Animal Protection Laws of New York
The Animal Protection Laws of New York compendium contains the general animal protection and related statutes for New York with an effective date on or before September 1, 2025.
Legislative Session
Active Legislation
A Bill to Add a Companion Animal Protection Order for Victims of Domestic Violence (New York)
S. 8035
New York state legislation would authorize courts, upon issuance of an order of protection, to order that the exclusive care, custody, and control of certain companion animals be granted to the petitioner.
A Bill to Ban Wild Animals in Circuses (New York)
A.5850/S.3629-A
This New York bill would prohibit the use of certain wild animals in traveling animal acts throughout the state, including big cats, bears, nonhuman primates, kangaroos, and wallabies.
Ryder’s Law
Intro 0967
A bill to wind down the horse drawn cab industry by prohibiting the issuance of new licenses used in the operation of horse drawn cabs. The operation of such cabs would be prohibited beginning June 1, 2026. This bill would require humane disposition of carriage horses, prohibiting their sale or transfer for the purposes of slaughter or use in another horse drawn cab business.
Active Cases
No results found.
Take Action
Take action now to help animals in your state.
New York: Protect Animal and Human Victims of Domestic Violence!
Legislation to include companion animals in protection orders for human domestic violence victims is pending in the New York legislature. Ask your state senator to support and cosponsor S. 8035 today!
New York: Take action for octopuses today!
Help protect New York’s waters, residents, and octopuses by supporting a statewide ban on octopus farming!
New York: Help Protect Animals from Inhumane Traveling Acts
Urge state legislators to protect wild animals from cruelty in traveling acts in New York.
New York: Ask Your Legislators to Protect Animal Cruelty Victims!
S. 1659/A. 111 provides for an advocate in criminal cases concerning the welfare or care of an animal. Courtroom Animal Advocate Programs allow advocates — supervised law students or volunteer lawyers — to advocate for animal victims in criminal cruelty cases.
Stop Ag-Gag Laws
Undercover investigations and whistleblowers have exposed some of the worst aspects of factory farming, but Ag-Gag laws punish people who speak out about cruelty in animal agriculture. Voice your opposition.
No More Puppy Mills
Puppy mill operators maximize their profits by producing large numbers of puppies as quickly as possible. As a result, unsanitary conditions, disease, and neglect are rampant. Sign our pledge to boycott puppy mills. Together we can end cruel puppy mills.
Passing Local Legislation: Retail Pet Sale Ban
In this free webinar, we walk you through the basics of how to pass a retail pet sale bans in your community — a powerful way to fight back against puppy mills.
Passing Local Legislation: Prohibiting Animals in Circuses and Traveling Shows
This webinar will focus on passing a local prohibition on animals used in circuses and other traveling shows.
Past Victories
Banning Killing Contests (New York)
S.4099/A.2917
Proposed legislation would prohibit harassing or killing certain wildlife at competitive events.
Seeking Justice for Gigi — and Defending New York’s Cruelty Laws
People of the State of New York v. Luis Jimenez
Puppy Mill Pipeline Act (New York)
S.1130/A.4283
The Puppy Mill Pipeline Act would prohibit the sale of puppies, kittens, and rabbits in retail stores.
New York Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act (New York)
Prohibits the manufacture or sale of cosmetics tested on animals after January 1, 2023 (A.5653-A/ S.4839)
The New York Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act, A.5653-A/S.4839, would prohibit the manufacture or sale of most cosmetics tested on animals after January 1, 2023.
Animal Legal Defense Fund 2025 Animal Protection Laws Ranking Report
See the best and worst states for animal protection laws