New York bill seeks to penalize negligent dog owners

A New York assembly member has proposed a bill, "Penny's Law," to hold dog owners accountable for aggressive dog attacks and leaving the scene. This aims to establish new animal cruelty crimes. The bill, inspired by a recent attack on a Chihuahua named Penny, would penalize owners whose dogs attack or injure others, and those who repeatedly allow their dogs off-leash. Current law treats dogs as property, limiting legal recourse. The proposed legislation follows a rise in off-leash dog incidents and aims to address the lack of accountability for negligent dog owners, particularly in areas like Staten Island, which has a high rate of dog bites.