New York legislation · 2025-2026 General Assembly
New York A8551: Restricts the performance of surgical devocalization procedures on dogs and cats
Status: In committee, May 7, 2026
Restricts the performance of surgical devocalization procedures on dogs and cats; prohibited for reasons of convenience in keeping or handling a dog or cat.
What the bill says
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to restricting the performance of surgical devocalization procedures on dogs and cats.
From the introduced text, May 20, 2025:
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to restricting the performance of surgical devocalization procedures on dogs and cats THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new section 365-a to read as follows: § 365-A. DEVOCALIZATION OF ANIMALS. 1. NO PERSON SHALL PERFORM THE SURGICAL DEVOCALIZATION OF A DOG OR CAT EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION. 2. A. SURGICAL DEVOCALIZATION OF A DOG OR CAT SHALL BE PERFORMED ONLY BY A PERSON LICENSED AS A VETERINARIAN PURSUANT TO ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE OF THE EDUCATION LAW. B. SURGICAL DEVOCALIZATION OF A DOG OR CAT MAY BE PERFORMED WHERE NECESSARY TO TREAT OR RELIEVE A PHYSICAL ILLNESS, DISEASE OR INJURY OR CORRECT A CONGENITAL ABNORMALITY SUFFERED BY THE ANIMAL, WHERE SUCH PHYSICAL ILLNESS, DISEASE, INJURY OR CONGENITAL ABNORMALITY IS CAUSING OR MAY REASONABLY CAUSE THE ANIMAL PHYSICAL PAIN OR HARM. SURGICAL DEVOCALIZATION MAY NOT BE PERFORMED FOR REASONS OF CONVENIENCE IN KEEPING OR HANDLING A DOG OR CAT. 3. ANY VETERINARIAN WHO PERFORMS A SURGICAL DEVOCALIZATION PROCEDURE ON A DOG OR CAT SHALL DOCUMENT THE PERFORMANCE OF SUCH PROCEDURE IN THE TREATMENT RECORD OF THE PATIENT, INCLUDING THE MEDICAL NECESSITY JUSTIFYING …
Sponsors
- Landon Dais (D, 77) · primary sponsor
- William Colton (D, 47)
- Angelo Santabarbara (D, 111)
- Cashman, Michael (D, 115)
- David DiPietro (R, 147)
- Linda Rosenthal (D, 67)
- Larinda Hooks (D, 35)
- Deborah Glick (D, 66)
Latest actions
- : SUBSTITUTED BY S3026
- : ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.465
- : REPORTED
- : REPORTED REFERRED TO CODES
- : REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE
- : REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE
Votes
- Assembly Codes Committee: Favorable (May 5, 2026): 18 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Assembly Agriculture Committee: Favorable refer to committee Codes (March 31, 2026): 21 yea, 2 nay, passed
Subjects: Agriculture and Markets Law
Common questions
- What is A8551?
- A8551 is a bill in the New York Legislature (2025-2026 General Assembly): Restricts the performance of surgical devocalization procedures on dogs and cats.
- What does A8551 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to restricting the performance of surgical devocalization procedures on dogs and cats.
- What is the status of A8551?
- In committee as of May 7, 2026. Latest action: SUBSTITUTED BY S3026 (May 11, 2026).
- Who sponsored A8551?
- Landon Dais (D, 77), with 7 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for A8551?
- On the New York Legislature website: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A8551
Source: official New York record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.