AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

SB 2610 creates a legal cause of action for pet owners whose dogs or cats (defined as household pets) are intentionally or negligently injured or killed under specific circumstances. It allows owners to seek noneconomic damages - compensation for loss of companionship, love, and affection - ranging from a minimum of $500 for injury to $750 for death, with a maximum cap of $7,500. The law applies only when the incident occurs on the owner’s property or while the pet is under the owner’s direct supervision. It excludes government agencies and nonprofits acting in public health or animal welfare roles, and defines "seriously injured" as requiring stitches for broken bones or permanent disfigurement.