Dog-nappings grab lawmakers' attention
Albany, N.Y. - A sharp increase in "dog-nappings" recorded by the American Kennel Club (AKC) last year has resulted in the introduction of two new laws in New York that would make pet theft penalties more harsh.
ALBANY, N.Y. — A sharp increase in "dog-nappings" recorded by the American Kennel Club (AKC) last year has resulted in the introduction of two new laws in New York that would make pet-theft penalties more harsh.
The two bills, Assembly Bill 2593 and Senate Bill 6354, would establish pet theft as crimes in the first and second degree. One defines pets as cats and dogs only, the other as any domesticated companion animal, excluding farm animals.
AKC reported there were 115 stolen pet reports in 2009, compared to only 71 in 2008.
