Education and Resources
Bite Prevention:
Most animal bites can be avoided if you learn to understand how animals communicate. They communicate through their body language and species-appropriate vocalization. Teach yourself and your children to stay safe around pets.
- Report an Animal Bite in NYC
- Be Safe Around Dogs!(NYC DOHMH)
- Be a Responsible Dog Owner: Protect Your Pet, Yourself and Others (NYC DOHMH)
Surrender Prevention Programs
Pets for Life NYC (formerly known as The Safety Net Program) is a pet surrender prevention program of the Humane Society of the United States partnering with AC&C. Pets for Life NYC can help you keep your pet by offering free and low-cost services that can solve the problem(s) that might be leading you to give up your pet.
Pets for Life NYC offers:
- Free and low-cost behavioral training for dogs and cats;
- Assistance with pet-related landlord-tenant issues;
- Low-cost boarding and other solutions for pets of people in crisis;
- Allergy and shedding solutions;
- Low-cost veterinary care, for those who qualify;
- Information on free and low-cost spay/neuter services, and free transport to spay/neuter services for multi-cat households, if needed;
- Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) information;
- Donations of pet food and pet supplies for those in financial need; and
- General support, counseling and education for those with pet-related concerns.
For more information and assistance, call Pets for Life NYC Monday - Friday from 9am - 5pm at 917.468.2938. You may also visit the Humane Society of the United State's website.
Humane Laws
Many laws relating to animals govern the interaction between humans and animals. Some relate to public health and safety describing how a person should behave to ensure that their pet does not cause harm or injury to others in the community. Others prohibit certain types of conduct towards animals, often referred to as humane laws. Below are a list of laws and titles.
- State Laws and Titles
- NYC Laws and Titles
- New York Spay/Neuter Law
- New York Cruelty Law
- Pets You are Allowed to Own, by Law
Landlord Issues
If you are having legal issues with your landlord regarding your pet, there might be an option to help. Please read NYCHA's Pet Policy and Residents' Rights to understand your tenant rights as a pet owner if you live in NYCHA housing.