New legislation is on the horizon in New York’s State Assembly, designed to implement more accountability for owners of hostile and dangerous dogs. The proposed measure, referred to as ‘Penny’s Law,’ is the brainchild of Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar, who hails from Queens, New York. The law aims to define new categories of animal abuse, primarily centered around careless dog management and departure from an animal attack scene. The legislation further seeks to penalize those who habitually neglect to leash their furry companions.
Named in honor of a traumatically injured Chihuahua, ‘Penny’s Law,’ hopes to bring significant legal changes to protect pets. Penny, an Upper West Side resident, became a known victim after falling prey to a severe attack from unleashed pit bulls. Rajkumar’s office reported that the pit bulls’ caretaker had an earlier incident as well, where, being unrestrained, their dogs allegedly ended another dog’s life in Central Park.
Drawing from her affection for dogs, Rajkumar stated, ‘Those of us who have experienced the warmth of a dog know they are much more than mere property, they are part of our family.’ She emphasizes the existing injustice where there are insufficient criminal liabilities for individuals who let their dogs harm or terminate your canine family members. As per Rajkumar, tragedies like Penny’s are entirely avoidable if irresponsible dog owners realize there will be consequences. ‘When Penny’s Law’ is adopted,’ she insists, ‘we will eradicate these unfortunate events, demonstrating we are a society that treasures our dog family.’
In both cited incidents, Rajkumar alleges that the pit bull owners abandoned the site without any kind of intervention for the victims. Penny’s owner, who has purportedly agreed to lend her canine’s name to the bill, showed her gratitude by saying, ‘This is my precious girl; she is a survivor. I want accountability from those responsible for her suffering.’
Under current legislation, it isn’t regarded as a criminal offense if an owner’s dog attacks, or even kills, another. Exceptions exist if the dog owner personally harms either the other dog or a human, or if a person is injured. Presently, dogs are legally deemed ‘property,’ much to the dismay of owners whose dogs suffer attack injuries. These owners often find their grievances unaddressed, as law enforcement’s hands are tied by the law. Rajkumar argues that this lack of repercussions is enabling negligent dog owners to pass off such events as childish dog play.
She also asserts that the contributing factor to this issue is the prevalent incident of dogs being allowed to wander without their leashes. According to her office, this year saw a staggering 1,300 off-leash dog reports registered with 311. Alongside the assault on Penny, Rajkumar draws attention to a May 1 incident at Riverside Park, where an unrestrained dog reportedly injured another dog and a person.
Another area bearing the impact of lax current dog assault regulations is Staten Island. Over the years, this borough has consistently experienced the highest occurrence of dog bites in New York city, per the city’s data records. This trend continues, with data from 2022-2023 revealing that Staten Island recorded 124 dog bites per 100,000 residents, a sharp contrast to the city’s remaining districts, which documented 82 instances.
These statistics suggest an urgent need for more stringent pet protection laws. Unfortunately, under the existing legislation, there is no effective recourse for individuals randomly bitten by a dog. New York state laws currently grant a ‘free’ bite to dogs, presenting a severe challenge to victims.
Under the current laws, the burden of proving the dog’s dangerous intentions falls on the bite victim. Multiple cases highlight the difficulties faced by victims, as investigations often disclose that the accused dogs have a clean slate with no prior incidents.
In situations where the bite victim is left with the daunting task of gathering information after the dog owner flees the scene, it becomes close to impossible. There is an apparent absence of provisions for such hit-and-run instances, once again underlining the need for legislative revisions.
Therefore, based on the severity of these circumstances, the introduction of a law like ‘Penny’s Law’ can prove pivotal in regulating dog ownership responsibilities. Combining stricter regulations with owners’ obligations towards their pets, the proposed law might deter negligent pet handling and hold owners accountable.
While it remains to be seen how the proposed legislation will come into effect and how watchdog owners will embrace it, one thing is certain: ‘Penny’s Law,’ if passed, will herald notable changes in dog ownership legislation. These changes could prove instrumental in ensuring the welfare of pets and their owners across the state.
As accidents involving unleashed dogs continue to make headlines, policymakers, pet advocates, and the general public across New York State remain hopeful that ‘Penny’s Law’ will herald a more secure future for their beloved pets. The future of canine safety in New York now hinges on the direction this bill takes in the legislature.