BRINGING REX HOME
Bringing Rex Home
A Veterinarian/Boarding Kennel’s Right To Hold Your Pet Because of an Unpaid Bill
By: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York Committee on Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals.
When a pet is boarded at a boarding kennel or veterinary hospital, or receives medical treatment from a veterinarian, owners may sometimes find themselves faced with a bill they are unable to pay. In such a situation, owners may be informed by the veterinarian/boarding kennel that their pet will not be returned to them until the bill is paid. Owners may even be informed that their pet will be sent to the pound in the event of non-payment. The purpose of this pamphlet is to outline an owner’s rights, under New York law, in such situations. The following analysis applies not only to veterinarians and boarding kennels, but to any person who treats, boards or cares for animals.
Can a veterinarian/boarding kennel refuse to return your pet to you in the event of non-payment of a bill?
Yes. Under New York law, a veterinarian/boarding kennel has what is known as a possessory lien upon an animal for the cost of care. Thus, the veterinarian/boarding kennel may refuse to return an animal in its possession until the bill for care and treatment is paid.
Can a veterinarian/boarding kennel send your pet to the pound if the bill remains unpaid?
Yes, but only if the veterinarian/boarding kennel follows specific steps. Furthermore, if the veterinarian/boarding kennel follows these steps, you may retrieve your pet within a certain time period, before your pet is sent to the pound.
Thus, under New York law, if a bill remains unpaid and the veterinarian/boarding kennel wishes to place your pet in the care of the Center for Animal Care and Control (“CACC”), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (“ASPCA”) or another humane society or agency, the veterinarian/boarding kennel must first fulfill the requirements of sections 331 and 332 of the New York Agriculture and Markets Law.
What steps must the veterinarian/boarding kennel take?
Before an animal in the possession of a veterinarian/boarding kennel can be sent to the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound, the animal must first be “deemed abandoned” as defined under section 331 of New York’s Agriculture and Markets Law. In order for this to occur, the veterinarian/boarding kennel must first send a “notice” letter to the owner. Generally, this letter will be sent when a bill remains unpaid or when an animal is simply abandoned at the veterinarian/boarding kennel and the facility wishes to dispose of the animal.
How must the “notice” letter be sent?
The veterinarian/boarding kennel must send a letter, by registered mail, to the last known address of the person who left the animal.
What must the “notice” letter say?
If you left your pet with the veterinarian/boarding kennel for a specified period of time (for example, boarding for a week) and the animal is not removed by the agreed upon date, the letter should state that the animal will be “deemed abandoned” 10 days after the “notice” letter is sent.
If the animal was left with the veterinarian/boarding kennel for an unspecified time period, the letter should state that the animal will be “deemed abandoned” 20 days after the “notice” letter has been sent.
What else must the “notice” letter say?
– Under New York case law, the “notice” letter must also indicate that this is the last opportunity you have to retrieve your pet before the veterinarian/boarding kennel disposes of your pet in accordance with New York law. If the letter does not state this information it will not be sufficient for the purposes of the New York statute.
What if the letter also includes the bill for payment?
– New York case law indicates that if the “notice” letter also includes a claim for professional services, the letter will be insufficient for the purposes of the New York statute unless the veterinarian/boarding kennel attaches a complete copy of sections 331 and 332 of New York’s Agriculture and Markets statute.
Can I recover my pet upon receiving the letter?
– Yes. You may recover your pet from the veterinarian/boarding kennel after the letter has been sent, but before the relevant time period has expired. New York law requires that the veterinarian/boarding kennel must return the animal to you during this period upon request, even if the bill remains unpaid. You will, however, remain liable for the unpaid bill.
It is important to remember that an animal left with a veterinarian/boarding kennel cannot be placed in the care of the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound until the above procedure, and time limits, have been complied with. Once the relevant time period has passed, be it 10 or 20 days, the animal will be “deemed abandoned” under the law.
What happens to your pet once the time period has run and it is “deemed abandoned”?
– Once your pet is “deemed abandoned” — that is, the 10 or 20 day period has run following the sending of the “notice” letter by registered mail — the veterinarian/boarding kennel may, after certain further requirements discussed below are met, place the animal in the care of the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound.
Does the veterinarian/boarding kennel have to do anything before sending your pet to the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound?
– Yes. Under New York law, if the veterinarian/boarding kennel chooses to send the animal to the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound, it must, on the day of delivering the animal to the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound, notify the person who placed the animal with the veterinarian/boarding kennel of the name and address of where the animal is sent. This second “notice” letter must be by registered mail to the last known address. Furthermore, the veterinarian/boarding kennel should inform the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound that the animal is “deemed abandoned” and, consequently, the five day limit before euthanasia (which is discussed below) applies, as opposed to the 48 hour time limit which applies to stray dogs and cats in New York City.
What happens to your pet once it is sent to the pound?
– You may reclaim your pet from the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound, but if your pet is not claimed within five days after being delivered to the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound, the animal can be adopted out or euthanized.
The five day limit will start to run on the day your pet is sent to the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound, which is the same day the second “notice” letter is sent, and not on the day you receive the second “notice” letter. Consequently, it is very import to contact the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound the moment you receive the second “notice” letter.
If your pet is sent to the pound must you still pay the original bill?
– You will remain liable for the unpaid bill regardless of whether the animal is sent to the pound, euthanized or adopted.
The following are the locations, telephone numbers and office hours of the CACC and ASPCA in New York City and the locations and telephone numbers of the main shelters in other principal cities and counties in New York State:
Center for Animal Care and Control
Shelters and Adoption Centers
Manhattan
326 East 110th Street
New York, NY 10029
(212) 722-3620
Hours: 24hrs, 7 days per week
Brooklyn
2336 Linden Boulevard
Brooklyn, NY 11208
(718) 272-7200
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday to Saturday
Pet Receiving and Adoption Centers
Queens
92-29 Queens Boulevard
Rego Park, NY 11374
(718) 997-5330
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday to Saturday
Bronx
464 East Fordham Road
Bronx, NY 10458
(718) 733 0743
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday to Saturday
Staten Island
3139 Veterans Road West
Staten Island, NY 10309
(718) 984-6643
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
7 days per week
American Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals
424 East 92 Street
New York, NY 10128
(212) 876-7700
Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Monday-Saturday
11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday
Humane Society of Rochester and
Monroe County: Monroe
P.O. Box 299
Fairport, NY 14450
(716) 223-1330
BRINGING REX HOME
A VETERINARIAN/BOARDING KENNEL’S RIGHT TO HOLD YOUR PET BECAUSE OF AN UNPAID BILL
By: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York Committee on Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals.
When a pet is boarded at a boarding kennel or veterinary hospital, or receives medical treatment from a veterinarian, owners may sometimes find themselves faced with a bill they are unable to pay. In such a situation, owners may be informed by the veterinarian/boarding kennel that their pet will not be returned to them until the bill is paid. Owners may even be informed that their pet will be sent to the pound in the event of non-payment. The purpose of this pamphlet is to outline an owner’s rights, under New York law, in such situations. The following analysis applies not only to veterinarians and boarding kennels, but to any person who treats, boards or cares for animals.
Can a veterinarian/boarding kennel refuse to return your pet to you in the event of non-payment of a bill?
– Yes. Under New York law, a veterinarian/boarding kennel has what is known as a possessory lien upon an animal for the cost of care. Thus, the veterinarian/boarding kennel may refuse to return an animal in its possession until the bill for care and treatment is paid.
Can a veterinarian/boarding kennel send your pet to the pound if the bill remains unpaid?
– Yes, but only if the veterinarian/boarding kennel follows specific steps. Furthermore, if the veterinarian/boarding kennel follows these steps, you may retrieve your pet within a certain time period, before your pet is sent to the pound.
Thus, under New York law, if a bill remains unpaid and the veterinarian/boarding kennel wishes to place your pet in the care of the Center for Animal Care and Control (“CACC”), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (“ASPCA”) or another humane society or agency, the veterinarian/boarding kennel must first fulfill the requirements of sections 331 and 332 of the New York Agriculture and Markets Law.
What steps must the veterinarian/boarding kennel take?
– Before an animal in the possession of a veterinarian/boarding kennel can be sent to the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound, the animal must first be “deemed abandoned” as defined under section 331 of New York’s Agriculture and Markets Law. In order for this to occur, the veterinarian/boarding kennel must first send a “notice” letter to the owner. Generally, this letter will be sent when a bill remains unpaid or when an animal is simply abandoned at the veterinarian/boarding kennel and the facility wishes to dispose of the animal.
How must the “notice” letter be sent?
– The veterinarian/boarding kennel must send a letter, by registered mail, to the last known address of the person who left the animal.
What must the “notice” letter say?
– If you left your pet with the veterinarian/boarding kennel for a specified period of time (for example, boarding for a week) and the animal is not removed by the agreed upon date, the letter should state that the animal will be “deemed abandoned” 10 days after the “notice” letter is sent.
If the animal was left with the veterinarian/boarding kennel for an unspecified time period, the letter should state that the animal will be “deemed abandoned” 20 days after the “notice” letter has been sent.
What else must the “notice” letter say?
– Under New York case law, the “notice” letter must also indicate that this is the last opportunity you have to retrieve your pet before the veterinarian/boarding kennel disposes of your pet in accordance with New York law. If the letter does not state this information it will not be sufficient for the purposes of the New York statute.
What if the letter also includes the bill for payment?
– New York case law indicates that if the “notice” letter also includes a claim for professional services, the letter will be insufficient for the purposes of the New York statute unless the veterinarian/boarding kennel attaches a complete copy of sections 331 and 332 of New York’s Agriculture and Markets statute.
Can I recover my pet upon receiving the letter?
– Yes. You may recover your pet from the veterinarian/boarding kennel after the letter has been sent, but before the relevant time period has expired. New York law requires that the veterinarian/boarding kennel must return the animal to you during this period upon request, even if the bill remains unpaid. You will, however, remain liable for the unpaid bill.
It is important to remember that an animal left with a veterinarian/boarding kennel cannot be placed in the care of the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound until the above procedure, and time limits, have been complied with. Once the relevant time period has passed, be it 10 or 20 days, the animal will be “deemed abandoned” under the law.
What happens to your pet once the time period has run and it is “deemed abandoned”?
– Once your pet is “deemed abandoned” — that is, the 10 or 20 day period has run following the sending of the “notice” letter by registered mail — the veterinarian/boarding kennel may, after certain further requirements discussed below are met, place the animal in the care of the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound.
Does the veterinarian/boarding kennel have to do anything before sending your pet to the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound?
– Yes. Under New York law, if the veterinarian/boarding kennel chooses to send the animal to the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound, it must, on the day of delivering the animal to the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound, notify the person who placed the animal with the veterinarian/boarding kennel of the name and address of where the animal is sent. This second “notice” letter must be by registered mail to the last known address. Furthermore, the veterinarian/boarding kennel should inform the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound that the animal is “deemed abandoned” and, consequently, the five day limit before euthanasia (which is discussed below) applies, as opposed to the 48 hour time limit which applies to stray dogs and cats in New York City.
What happens to your pet once it is sent to the pound?
– You may reclaim your pet from the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound, but if your pet is not claimed within five days after being delivered to the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound, the animal can be adopted out or euthanized.
The five day limit will start to run on the day your pet is sent to the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound, which is the same day the second “notice” letter is sent, and not on the day you receive the second “notice” letter. Consequently, it is very import to contact the CACC, ASPCA or other humane society or pound the moment you receive the second “notice” letter.
If your pet is sent to the pound must you still pay the original bill?
– You will remain liable for the unpaid bill regardless of whether the animal is sent to the pound, euthanized or adopted.
The following are the locations, telephone numbers and office hours of the CACC and ASPCA in New York City and the locations and telephone numbers of the main shelters in other principal cities and counties in New York State:
Center for Animal Care and Control
Shelters and Adoption Centers
Manhattan
326 East 110th Street
New York, NY 10029
(212) 722-3620
Hours: 24hrs, 7 days per week
Brooklyn
2336 Linden Boulevard
Brooklyn, NY 11208
(718) 272-7200
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday to Saturday
Pet Receiving and Adoption Centers
Queens
92-29 Queens Boulevard
Rego Park, NY 11374
(718) 997-5330
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday to Saturday
Bronx
464 East Fordham Road
Bronx, NY 10458
(718) 733 0743
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday to Saturday
Staten Island
3139 Veterans Road West
Staten Island, NY 10309
(718) 984-6643
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
7 days per week
American Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals
424 East 92 Street
New York, NY 10128
(212) 876-7700
Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Monday-Saturday
11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday
Humane Society of Rochester and
Monroe County: Monroe
P.O. Box 299
Fairport, NY 14450
(716) 223-1330
Central New York SPCA
County: Onondaga
5878 East Molloy Road
Syracuse, NY 13211
(315) 454-4479
SPCA Serving Erie County
County: Erie
205 Ensminger Road
Tonawanda, NY 14150
(716) 875-7360
Mohawk-Hudson River Humane Society
County: Albany
Oakland Avenue
Menands, NY 12284
(518) 434-8128
Committee on Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals
Lawrence M. Levinson, Chair
Dori A. Lewis, Secretary
Frances B. Carlisle
Marjorie Cramer, M.D.
Todd Davis
Hon. Alfred Donati, Jr.
Jane Ellen Hoffman
Laura Melissa Mattera
Gilda Mariani
Marilyn Mason
John McKew
Nancy Milburn
Karen A. Pakstis
David Jonathan Stein
William S. Strauss*
Mariann Sullivan
Darryl M. Vernon
Lisa Beth Weisberg
David Wolfson*
* Member of Subcommittee on Veterinary Issues
This brochure was printed with the generous support of the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
Central New York SPCA
County: Onondaga
5878 East Molloy Road
Syracuse, NY 13211
(315) 454-4479
SPCA Serving Erie County
County: Erie
205 Ensminger Road
Tonawanda, NY 14150
(716) 875-7360
Mohawk-Hudson River Humane Society
County: Albany
Oakland Avenue
Menands, NY 12284
(518) 434-8128
Committee on Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals
Lawrence M. Levinson, Chair
Dori A. Lewis, Secretary
Frances B. Carlisle
Marjorie Cramer, M.D.
Todd Davis
Hon. Alfred Donati, Jr.
Jane Ellen Hoffman
Laura Melissa Mattera
Gilda Mariani
Marilyn Mason
John McKew
Nancy Milburn
Karen A. Pakstis
David Jonathan Stein
William S. Strauss*
Mariann Sullivan
Darryl M. Vernon
Lisa Beth Weisberg
David Wolfson*
* Member of Subcommittee on Veterinary Issues
This brochure was printed with the generous support of the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
