Bill > S08035

This bill expands legal protections for companion animals in domestic violence and family court proceedings by allowing courts to grant exclusive care, custody, and control of companion animals to the petitioner in an order of protection. The bill amends several sections of New York law, including the Family Court Act, Criminal Procedure Law, and Domestic Relations Law, to explicitly include provisions about companion animals. Under the new provisions, courts can order the respondent to stay away from the companion animal and prohibit them from taking, transferring, concealing, or harming the animal. The bill defines "companion animal" using the existing definition in the Agriculture and Markets Law and extends jurisdictional provisions to include animal cruelty, aggravated animal cruelty, and sexual misconduct with an animal when these acts are committed against animals owned or residing with a spouse, former spouse, child, or household member of the respondent. This legislation aims to provide additional protection for victims of domestic violence by recognizing the potential vulnerability of pets in these situations and giving courts more tools to protect both human and animal victims.

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https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8035