Int. No. 1484-A

By Council Members Levin, Holden, Chin, Lander, Brannan, Ayala, Louis, Adams, Rivera, Salamanca and Gennaro

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to providing information about pets whose owners enter homeless shelters

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Chapter 3 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-327 to read as follows:

§ 21-327 Information regarding the placement of pets.

a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Family. The term “family” means any two or more people, at least one of whom is 18 years of age or older, who accompany each other upon entering shelter. 

Individual. The term “individual” means any person who is 18 years of age or older who enters shelter without an accompanying person.

Pet. The term “pet” means a domesticated animal that is in the lawful possession of a person whose primary purpose in possessing such animal is to keep such animal as a pet.

Shelter. The term “shelter” means housing provided to individuals and families by the department or a provider under contract or similar agreement with the department.

b. No later than January 15, 2022, the department shall post on its website information regarding the placement of pets for families and individuals entering shelter and how to obtain any required paperwork for a pet to be designated as an emotional support animal. Such information must include the locations of the full-service animal shelters described in section 17-803.

c. No later than January 15, 2023 and every three months thereafter, the department shall post on its website and submit to the speaker of the council and the mayor a report that contains the following information:

1. The total number of families and individuals who applied for shelter disaggregated by those who reported that they had a pet; and

2. For each pet reported:

(a) Type of animal;

(b) Whether, upon the individual or family entering shelter, the pet was placed with a family member, friend or foster care provider, surrendered to an animal shelter or, in the case of any other placement or disposition of such pet, the details of such placement or disposition;

(c) Whether the individual or family reported forgoing shelter because they could not find an acceptable placement for their pet and, if so, the number of days such individual or family reported having forgone shelter for that reason;

(d) Whether the individual or family would have entered shelter with their pet if permitted to do so; and

(e) Whether the individual or family intended to regain possession of their pet upon obtaining housing that would accommodate their pet.

c. The information reported pursuant to subdivision b of this section shall be disaggregated by the borough in which the individual or family entered shelter. Where foster care providers are identified as placements, the name of any affiliated not-for-profit organization shall be identified. Where surrender to an animal shelter is identified as a placement, the name and location of the animal shelter shall be identified.     

d. No later than 120 days after the effective date of the local law that added this section, the department shall develop and use a questionnaire for the purpose of obtaining and reporting the information this section requires.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

NC/ACK

LS #8841

8/18/2021 10:45 pm