N.Y. Agriculture & Markets Law § 370: Protection of the public from attack by wild animals and reptiles

§ 370. Protection of the public from attack by wild animals and

reptiles. Any person owning, possessing or harboring a wild animal or

reptile capable of inflicting bodily harm upon a human being, who shall

fail to exercise due care in safeguarding the public from attack by such

wild animal or reptile, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by

imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than

five hundred dollars, or by both. "Wild animal" within the meaning of

this section, shall not include a dog or cat or other domestic animal.

Previous attacks upon a human being by such wild animal or reptile, or

knowledge of the vicious propensities of such wild animal or reptile, on

the part of the possessor or harborer thereof, shall not be required to

be proven by the people upon a prosecution hereunder; and neither the

fact that such wild animal or reptile has not previously attacked a

human being, nor lack of knowledge of the vicious propensities of such

wild animal or reptile on the part of the owner, possessor or harborer

thereof shall constitute a defense to a prosecution hereunder.