Report on legislation which would prohibit the piercing and tattooing of companion animals except in certain specified cases

SUMMARY

The Animal Law Committee issued a report expressing support for legislation which would prohibit piercing and tattooing companion animals except in certain specified cases. Specifically, piercing a companion animal would be prohibited except: 1) when it provides a medical benefit to the animal and is performed by a licensed veterinarian (or under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian); 2) provides a medical benefit to the animal or is done in conjunction with a medical procedure for the animal, and is performed by a licensed veterinarian (or under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian); or 3) is done for identification, not design, purposes and includes only numbers and letters allotted by a corporation that in the regular course of business maintains an animal tattoo identification registry. 

Originally Issued June 2013; Reissued June 2014

BILL INFORMATION

A.739-D (AM Rosenthal) / S.6769-C (Sen. Libous) – prohibits companion animal piercing and tattooing except for identification or medical benefit (NYS 2013-14)

OUTCOME

Signed by the Governor, Chp. 479 – December 15, 2014