New York Statewide Rule
New York Stray & Loose Livestock Law (Ag & Markets §373)
Key Facts
- Statute
- Ag & Markets Law §373
- Who may seize
- Police or humane society agent
- Animals covered
- All animals, incl. livestock & poultry
- Where it applies
- Any street, road, or public place
- Related section
- §364 running horses on highway
Summary
Under New York Agriculture and Markets Law §373, any police officer or humane society agent may seize a lost, strayed, homeless, or abandoned animal, cattle, goats, sheep, or chickens included, found loose in any street, road, or other public place.
Any police officer or agent or officer of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or any duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, may lawfully take possession of any lost, strayed, homeless or abandoned animal found in any street, road or other public place.
Full Breakdown
Section 373 gives any police officer, or an agent of the ASPCA or any incorporated humane society, statewide authority to take possession of a lost, strayed, homeless, or abandoned animal, livestock and poultry included, found loose in a street, road, or public place. Seized animals are held and, if unredeemed, disposed of humanely under §374. New York has no statewide open-range or 'fence-out' law; loose livestock is treated as a stray under §373, while §364 ('Running horses on highway') separately addresses horses on a public highway. Local running-at-large ordinances apply on top of these state rules.
Violations & Penalties
Letting cattle, horses, goats, or chickens roam onto a public road exposes them to lawful seizure by police or a humane society under §373; unredeemed strays may be humanely disposed of under §374.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can New York seize my livestock if it gets loose?
Does New York have an open-range or fence-out law?
Sources
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