NY S01781

Amends Agriculture and Markets Law section 353-a to simplify the definition of aggravated cruelty to animals

Removes the requirement that killing or injuring a companion animal must be done "with aggravated cruelty" (defined as conduct intended to cause extreme physical pain or done in an especially depraved or sadistic manner)

Under the amended law, a person would be guilty of aggravated cruelty when they intentionally kill or cause serious physical injury to a companion animal with no justifiable purpose, regardless of the manner in which it was done

Eliminates the higher threshold of proving the act was carried out in a particularly cruel or sadistic way to secure a conviction

Takes effect immediately upon passage