Queens, NY (May 13, 2026): New York State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., is pleased that a bill he cosponsors to strengthen New York’s aggravated animal cruelty laws and ensure perpetrators of heinous abuse face appropriate penalties passed the New York State Senate.

The bill, S.703, amends the Agriculture and Markets Law by removing the word “serious” from the phrase “serious physical injury” in the state’s aggravated cruelty statute. The change closes a loophole that has made it difficult to secure felony convictions in cases where abused animals survive or recover from horrific injuries.

“Animals subjected to intentional cruelty and torture deserve the full protection of the law,” said Addabbo. “Too often, offenders avoid meaningful consequences because prosecutors are forced to prove a ‘serious’ physical injury even in clearly depraved and brutal animal abuse cases. This legislation helps ensure that those who intentionally harm companion animals can be held fully accountable.”

The legislation was inspired in part by the 2014 case of Rocky, an English bulldog on Staten Island who suffered severe injuries after ammonia was thrown in his face in an attempt to stop his barking. Rocky suffered ulcers in both eyes and nearly lost his vision. Although the abuse was extreme, the perpetrator ultimately avoided felony aggravated cruelty charges because Rocky survived and recovered from his injuries.

Bill supporters argue that current statutory language has contributed to low felony conviction rates in aggravated cruelty cases across New York State. By eliminating the word “serious,” prosecutors would only need to prove that a person intentionally injured or killed an animal in a cruel or depraved manner, rather than meeting a higher and often ambiguous threshold of injury.

“This is about making sure the punishment fits the crime,” Addabbo added. “New Yorkers overwhelmingly believe that deliberate acts of animal abuse should be treated with the seriousness they deserve.”

After passing the Senate, the bill now moves to the New York State Assembly for consideration.