How to Investigate Animal Cruelty in NY State – A Manual of Procedures

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW
Article 11
FISH AND WILDLIFE
TITLE 1

§ 11-0103. Definitions

27. “Leashed tracking dog” means a leashed dog which has been certified by the department pursuant to section 11-0928 of this chapter to track and find wounded or injured big game.

§ 11-0529. Cats hunting birds; dogs pursuing deer or killing other wildlife in certain areas

  1. Any person over the age of twenty-one years possessing a hunting license may, and environmental conservation officers and peace officers, acting pursuant to their special duties, or police officers shall humanely destroy cats at large found hunting or killing any protected wild bird or with a dead bird of any protected species in its possession.
  2. Every environmental conservation officer, and forest ranger and member of the state police may kill any dog (a) pursuing or killing deer within the Adirondack or Catskill parks, at any time; (b) pursuing or killing any game or wildlife on a state-owned game farm or wildlife refuge; or (c) pursuing or killing any game or wildlife on a state-owned or leased wildlife management area, except a dog being legally used for hunting small game or for dog training.
  3. Every park patrolman, park ranger and member of the state police, county police and town police may kill any dog pursuing or killing deer within any state park or state park reservation at any time.
  4. At any time (a) any environmental conservation officer, dog warden, forest ranger or member of the state police anywhere in the state; (b) any member of any town police within the limits of the town of which such member is an officer; (c) any member of the Westchester County Parkway police on any park, parkway or reservation owned or controlled by the county of Westchester; or (d) any member of a police force or department of any county, city, town or village in which such member has jurisdiction and is regularly employed may kill any dog pursuing or killing deer and any coyote killing a domestic animal.
  5. No action for damages shall lie against any person for the killing of a cat, dog or coyote as provided in this section.