Authorizes courts to order exclusive care of certain companion animals to the petitioner upon issuance of an order of protection.

This bill amends the family court act, the criminal procedure law, and the domestic relations law to authorize courts to order exclusive care, custody, and control of certain companion animals to the petitioner when an order of protection is issued. The court can also order the respondent to stay away from the companion animal and forbid them from taking, transferring, encumbering, concealing, harming, or otherwise disposing of the companion animal. The bill defines "companion animal" as per the agriculture and markets law.

Authorizes courts to order exclusive care of certain companion animals to the petitioner upon issuance of an order of protection.

This bill amends the family court act, the criminal procedure law, and the domestic relations law to authorize courts to order exclusive care, custody, and control of certain companion animals to the petitioner when an order of protection is issued. The court can also order the respondent to stay away from the companion animal and forbid them from taking, transferring, encumbering, concealing, harming, or otherwise disposing of the companion animal. The bill defines "companion animal" as per the agriculture and markets law.