New York Laws
Article 26 - Animals
365 - Clipping or Cutting the Ears of Dogs.

§ 365. Clipping or cutting the ears of dogs. 1. Whoever clips or cuts
off or causes or procures another to clip or cut off the whole or any
part of an ear of any dog unless an anaesthetic shall have been given to
the dog and the operation performed by a licensed veterinarian, is
guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than
one year, or a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or by both.

2. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any dog or person
who is the owner or possessor of any dog whose ear or a part thereof has
been clipped or cut off prior to September first, nineteen hundred
twenty-nine.

3. Each applicant for a dog license must state on such application
whether any ear of the dog for which he applies for such license has
been cut off wholly or in part.

4. Nothing herein contained shall be construed as preventing any dog
whose ear or ears shall have been clipped or cut off wholly or in part,
not in violation of this section, from being imported into the state
exclusively for breeding purposes.

Structure New York Laws