(a) all cats housed in a cage, kennel, or room that provides less than
eighteen square feet of floor space per cat for fourteen days or longer
shall be permitted at least fifteen minutes per day at least five days
per week outside of their primary enclosure to exercise and explore;
(b) all dogs residing in the shelter for fourteen days or longer shall
be permitted time outside of their primary enclosure to exercise and
explore for at least twenty minutes per day five days per week; or
(c) in the event such activities are not possible due to any animal's
health, behavior, order of the commissioner or legal restriction, the
condition and reason shall be documented in such animal's medical
record.
5. Each animal shelter shall implement additional measures for
enrichment and stress reduction for any animal in its custody or
possession showing persistent hiding, hostile interactions with other
animals, reduced activity, depression or social withdrawal, barrier
frustration or aggression, self-injurious behavior, repetitive non
goal-oriented movement, or stereotypic behaviors. Such measures shall be
documented in such animal's medical record created pursuant to section
four hundred twenty-three of this article.
6. Use of aversive methods in animal training or behavioral
modification is prohibited except in reward-based method situations,
where skilled application of the least aversive method that is expected
to succeed may be appropriate.
7. Animal shelters may perform a systematic behavioral evaluation on
animals prior to rehoming or other placement. In the event such
evaluations are performed, the following requirements shall apply:
(a) staff performing such evaluations shall receive, in advance,
adequate training in the performance and interpretation of the
behavioral evaluation or evaluations; and
(b) documentation of the results of every behavior evaluation
performed shall be added to the animal's record created pursuant to
section four hundred twenty-three of this article.
8. Each licensed animal shelter shall fully disclose all available
information regarding the behavior of any animal in its custody or
possession prior to such animal's transfer to an individual or another
organization as authorized pursuant to section three hundred
seventy-four of this chapter. Such information shall include, but not be
limited to prior history, observed behaviors in the shelter, and the
results of any systematic behavioral evaluations performed.
9. Any animal in the custody or possession of a licensed animal
shelter that is observed to be experiencing mental suffering or
behavioral deterioration shall be assessed and appropriately treated.
* NB Effective December 15, 2025
Structure New York Laws