New York bans tattooing, piercing of pets

Published 4:35 pm Wednesday, December 17, 2014

A new law in New York could have owners facing jail time for tattooing or piercing their pets. 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill today making it illegal for New York state residents to pierce or tattoo their pets for cosmetic reasons. Violators of the law could face up to 15 days in jail and a fine up to $250.

Occasionally, photos of artistically enhanced pets have been shared online, usually drawing the ire of the Internet. A jury found a Pennsylvania woman guilty of animal cruelty in 2011 after she advertised pierced “goth” kittens for sale. According to the New York Daily News, a Brooklyn tattoo artist gave his dog a tattoo following an unrelated medical procedure, sparking outrage. 

Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal first introduced the bill in 2011 after hearing about the aforementioned cases. The bill passed in June of 2014 with Rosenthal saying in a statement that the decorative tattooing or piercing a pet “serves no purpose other than to satisfy the aesthetic predilections of the owner.”

There are exceptions to the bill, allowing for ear tags on rabbits and tattoos for for medical or identification purposes.