New York Consolidated Laws, Agriculture and Markets Law - AGM § 365. Clipping or cutting the ears of dogs

1. Whoever clips or cuts off or causes or procures another to clip or cut off the whole or any part of an ear of any dog unless an anaesthetic shall have been given to the dog and the operation performed by a licensed veterinarian, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, or a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or by both.

2. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any dog or person who is the owner or possessor of any dog whose ear or a part thereof has been clipped or cut off prior to September first, nineteen hundred twenty-nine.

3. Each applicant for a dog license must state on such application whether any ear of the dog for which he applies for such license has been cut off wholly or in part.

4. Nothing herein contained shall be construed as preventing any dog whose ear or ears shall have been clipped or cut off wholly or in part, not in violation of this section, from being imported into the state exclusively for breeding purposes.