NEW YORK (PIX11) — Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed a bill into law banning the banning of piercing and tattooing pets for purely “cosmetic” purposes.

The law makes it a crime to pierce or tattoo a pet, except under limited circumstances, such as ear tags.

“This is animal abuse, pure and simple,” Governor Cuomo said. “I’m proud to sign this common sense legislation and end these cruel and unacceptable practices in New York once and for all.”

People who violate the law could face 15 days in jail and/or a fine of $250.

“While people can decide whether they would like to undergo the pain associated with a tattoo or piercing, animals do not have that luxury,” Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal said. “Subjecting animals to painful cosmetic procedures, such as tattooing and piercing, merely to satisfy an individual’s misguided and selfish aesthetic predilections, is inhumane and should be considered cruelty by the law.”

In March, Brooklyn tattoo artist “Mistah Metro” was fired after he tattooed his unconscious dog at a veterinarian’s office and posted the photo on Instagram.

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