Putnam County, NY Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Duty
- Check registry before every sale/adoption/transfer
- First violation fine
- Up to $250
- Repeat violation
- Class A misdemeanor within 2 years
- Registry maintained by
- Sheriff and Putnam County SPCA
- Offender listing period
- 10 years post-release or judgment
- Seller defense
- Checked registry, name not listed
Summary
Putnam County pet stores, dealers, sellers and shelters must check the county's online Animal Cruelty Registry before every sale, adoption, exchange or transfer, and may not knowingly place an animal with anyone listed on it. Violations bring escalating fines and, on repeat, a misdemeanor charge.
§ 115-5. Prohibition from transferring animal ownership to animal abuse offenders. ... No pet seller, pet dealer, pet store, animal shelter, other person or entity located in Putnam County, or any other authorized agents thereof, shall knowingly sell, exchange or otherwise transfer the ownership of any animal to any person listed on the registry. ... Prior to the sale, adoption, exchange, or other transfer of ownership of any animal within Putnam County, the pet seller, pet dealer, pet store, animal shelter, other person or entity located in Putnam County, or any other authorized agents thereof, is required to examine the registry to confirm that the name of the potential owner of the animal is not listed thereon. § 115-6. Penalties for offenses. ... Any pet seller, pet dealer, pet store, animal shelter or other individual or entity located in Putnam County, or any authorized agents thereof, who violates § 115-5 of this article, shall be guilty of a violation and subject to a maximum fine of $250.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 115 of the Putnam County Code establishes an online Animal Cruelty Registry that the Putnam County Sheriff maintains jointly with the Putnam County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCSPCA), listing anyone residing in the county convicted of an animal abuse crime for 10 years after release or judgment (§ 115-3). shall knowingly sell, exchange or otherwise transfer the ownership of any animal to any person listed on the registry," and every one of those sellers "is required to examine the registry" before completing a sale, adoption, exchange or other transfer to confirm the buyer's name is not on it.
The article defines "pet dealer" as anyone who sells or offers to sell more than nine animals a year for profit, expressly including pet stores and home breeders who sell direct to consumers, and "pet store" as any facility offering animals for sale as part of a business. This is not a puppy-mill sales ban or an adoption-only mandate; Putnam County's code does not prohibit stores from selling dogs or cats generally. It is a targeted screening duty tied to the abuse registry, backed by real penalties for the seller, not just the buyer, and it reaches shelters and private breeders as well as storefront pet shops.
Violations & Fines
Under § 115-6(E), a pet seller, pet dealer, pet store, animal shelter or authorized agent that violates § 115-5 is guilty of a violation punishable by a fine of up to $250, unless the seller checked the registry and the buyer's name did not then appear on it, which is an express defense. A second violation within two years becomes a Class A misdemeanor (§ 115-6(F)). Anyone who knowingly buys or adopts on behalf of a registered offender faces a separate fine of $250 to $1,000, up to 15 days' imprisonment, or both (§ 115-6(G)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Putnam County pet store sell an animal to anyone?
Must a pet store check the registry before a sale?
What happens if a pet store sells to someone on the registry?
Is there a defense if the buyer's name was not yet listed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Putnam County
New York rules heatmap·Compare Putnam County to another location·View the New York animal ordinances overview
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