Animal policymaking in New York City

Animals are an important focus of local governance. The study in this article relates how animal policymaking has progressed in New York City. The data comes from the repositories of animal-relevant legislation proposed and enacted by the city council from 1990 through 2023. A total of 183 distinct actions were identified and placed within a typology of four narratives: animal control, animal welfare, advancing human-animal interactions, and wildlife conservation. A general finding was that animal policy formulation and implementation was the responsibility of multiple governmental and nongovernmental organizations. For legislative policymaking, it was discovered that animal control was chiefly about dangerous dogs, animal welfare legislation increased markedly over time, the promotion of human-animal interactions focused on ensuring people can live with pets, and wildlife conservation was an emerging concern. The conclusion pinpoints the relevance of recognizing animal interests in cities.