Requires the municipal police training council establish a use of force policy for companion animals

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Sarah Clark

Creates a mandatory, regularly updated NY model use-of-force policy for encounters with companion animals to guide officer safety and animal handling.

REFERRED TO CODES

Purpose and Intent

The bill aims to require the municipal police training council to establish and regularly update a model use-of-force policy specifically for encounters with companion animals (e.g., dogs and cats, and other domesticated animals typically kept by households).

The goal is to provide standardized guidance for law enforcement on understanding companion animal behavior, tactical considerations, and safe handling and use of force when interacting with such animals.

Key Provisions

New Requirement for the Council: Amends Executive Law, section 840, to add a new paragraph (e) mandating the creation of a model policy on use of force in encounters with companion animals and its ongoing updates.

Contents of the Model Policy: The policy must address:

Understanding the behavior of companion animals.
Tactical considerations and best practices during encounters involving companion animals.
Safe handling of companion animals and appropriate use of force against them.

Definition of “Companion Animal”:

Includes dogs and cats.
Broadly includes any other domesticated animal normally maintained in or near the household of the owner or caregiver.
Explicitly excludes “farm animals” as defined by Agriculture and Markets Law.

Effective Date: The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Affected Parties

Primary: Municipal police departments and their training programs, specifically the Municipal Police Training Council in New York.

Other Stakeholders: Law enforcement officers who encounter companion animals during duties, animal control personnel, and communities relying on standardized use-of-force guidelines around domestic animals.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Legislative Action: Referred to the Committee on Codes as of April 14, 2026.

Implementation Timeline: The bill requires the council to establish and regularly update the model policy, but does not specify a fixed deadline within the text. Given “regularly update,” it implies ongoing periodic revisions after initial establishment.

Immediate Effect: Section 2 states the act shall take effect immediately upon enactment.

Practical Implications

Creates a standardized framework to reduce ambiguity in police responses to encounters with domestic animals.

Aims to improve officer safety and animal welfare by emphasizing behavioral understanding and safe handling.

Potential influence on training curricula, field protocols, and disciplinary/advisory processes if deviations from the model policy occur.

Does not redefine existing animal laws or create new criminal penalties; rather, it directs development of guidance material for use of force decisions.

If you’d like, I can compare this bill to current NY policies on use of force with animals or provide potential implementation challenges and questions for stakeholders.

Bill