New York A 9123: Relates to regulating the operation of animal boarding kennels

Bill Text

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A09123 Summary:

BILL NOA09123 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS S08510

&nbsp

SPONSORSantabarbara

&nbsp

COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

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Add Art 26-D §§440 - 449-b, amd §16, Ag & Mkts L

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Provides for the licensing, inspection and regulation of animal boarding kennels; authorizes the department of agriculture and markets to license, inspect and regulate animal boarding kennels.

Go to top A09123 Actions:

BILL NOA09123 

&nbsp

09/26/2025referred to agriculture

01/07/2026referred to agriculture

Go to topA09123 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA09123 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA09123 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 9123

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 September 26, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the
 Committee on Agriculture

 AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to regulat-
 ing the operation of animal boarding kennels

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as "the NYS Safe
 2 Pet Boarding Act".
 3 § 2. Legislative intent. The Legislature finds that there is a grow-
 4 ing epidemic of animal cruelty cases in the state. This act seeks to
 5 address failures in state law to properly regulate pet boarding kennels
 6 which have recently come to light with the deaths of 21 dogs at a board-
 7 er in Argyle and with the murder of the French Bulldog Gus at "A Time
 8 for Paws" in Halfmoon. This act would set some minimum standards at the
 9 state level for oversight of boarding kennels.
 10 § 3. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new arti-
 11 cle 26-D to read as follows:
 12 ARTICLE 26-D
 13 REGULATION OF BOARDING FACILITIES
 14 Section 440. Definitions.
 15 441. License required and inspection of facilities.
 16 442. Personnel training requirements.
 17 443. Recordkeeping and protocols.
 18 444. General facility standards.
 19 445. Animal housing.
 20 446. Sanitation.
 21 447. Boarding kennel management protocols.
 22 448. Animal husbandry.
 23 449. Violations.
 24 449-a. Waiving of requirements authorized.
 25 449-b. Application.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD13757-02-5

 A. 9123 2

 1 § 440. Definitions. For purposes of this article, the following terms
 2 shall have the following meanings:
 3 1. "Animal" shall mean a dog or cat as defined in this section, or
 4 other companion animal, but shall not include livestock.
 5 2. "Air handling system" shall mean the device or equipment used to
 6 regulate, circulate, exchange, heat, and/or cool the air inside a build-
 7 ing.
 8 3. "Ambient temperature" shall mean the temperature of the environment
 9 inside a room or building.
 10 4. "Boarding kennel" or "kennel" means a facility owned, operated or
 11 otherwise maintained for the care or custody of pet animals for board-
 12 ing, training, or similar purposes, for varying periods of time, where
 13 the ownership of the animal is not transferred, for profit or compen-
 14 sation regardless of whether or not such facility also serves as a
 15 personal residence. "Boarding kennel" includes an establishment commonly
 16 known as a "doggy day care".
 17 5. "Cat" shall mean any member of the species Felis catus, regardless
 18 of age, sex, breed, ownership status or behavior around humans.
 19 6. "Cleaning" shall mean the physical removal of debris and organic
 20 material from an environment.
 21 7. "Disinfection" shall mean the process where microorganisms are
 22 killed or inactivated, typically through the application of a chemical
 23 or by some physical process (e.g. steam, heat, etc.).
 24 8. "Dog" shall mean any member of the species Canis lupis familiaris,
 25 regardless of age, sex, breed, ownership status, or behavior around
 26 humans.
 27 9. "Enclosure" shall be defined as an area of confinement used for
 28 housing a single animal or group of animals housed together. An enclo-
 29 sure may be a cage, run, kennel, room, or other such confining area.
 30 10. "Enriched" shall mean an environment that reduces stress and