New York passed a law requiring veterinarians to disclose medication risks. Then the veterinary profession helped narrow its protections. Who makes sure the law is followed?
October 28, 2026 | Zorbium® Information Center
A Law Without a Traffic Cop?
Think about traffic laws. Drivers are required to obey speed limits, and police can monitor the roads and issue tickets. The public isn’t expected to investigate speeding violations and enforce the rules themselves.
Now consider Buoy’s Law, New York Education Law §6715. It requires veterinarians to provide certain medication information to pet owners. But who checks whether veterinary practices comply? Does the state regularly review disclosures or track violations?
New York’s Office of Professional Discipline investigates complaints against licensed veterinarians. Whether it proactively monitors compliance specifically with Buoy’s Law is a question we are seeking to answer.
A law can establish a right. But what happens when the person it is meant to protect does not know a violation occurred?
What Does Buoy’s Law Require?
Effective June 15, 2024, Education Law §6715 requires a New York veterinarian, when initially prescribing or dispensing a drug for a dog, cat, or rabbit for use outside the office, to provide the owner or their agent with:
- The drug’s name and description.
- Directions for use, including instructions about missed doses where applicable.
- Manufacturer storage instructions, if available.
- Common reasonably anticipated adverse effects.
- Manufacturer precautions and relevant warnings, if available.
The adverse-effect and warning requirements apply when the manufacturer has made the information available for that species. The disclosure may be oral or written, and the method must be noted in the patient’s medical record.
Read the current New York Education Law §6715.
What Changed Before the Law Took Effect?
Buoy’s Law was signed on December 15, 2022. The original version was broader: it applied when a veterinarian initially prescribed, dispensed, or provided a drug to an animal.
In 2023, the Legislature amended the law. The changes were significant:
| Original 2022 law | After the 2023 amendment |
|---|---|
| Animals generally | Dogs, cats, and rabbits |
| Drugs prescribed, dispensed, or provided | Removed “or provides” |
| No express “outside the office” limitation | Applies to drugs for use outside the office |
| Disclosure method not expressly specified | Allows oral or written disclosure; method documented in the record |
| Scheduled to take effect June 2023 | Delayed until June 2024 |
These changes narrowed the situations covered by the law’s disclosure requirements. Read the 2023 amendment, Senate Bill S7459, and its sponsor memorandum.
The Veterinary Association’s Role
The New York State Veterinary Medical Society (NYSVMS) publicly documented its efforts to change Buoy’s Law. In its 2023 Buoy’s Law Call to Action, the association said it had opposed earlier versions and negotiated changes to the legislation. It also acknowledged working with sponsors to introduce the 2023 amendment and encouraged members to contact legislators in support.
The association’s own comparison described the change as moving from disclosures concerning drugs for any animal, including those provided in-house, to disclosures concerning drugs prescribed or sent home for dogs, cats, and rabbits.
After the bill passed the Legislature, NYSVMS thanked members for their advocacy and said negotiations had led to a “much better end-result” than earlier versions. It also acknowledged that many members would have preferred no Buoy’s Law.
The amendment’s legislative materials also cite implementation concerns raised by the New York State Education Department. It would be inaccurate to attribute every provision solely to NYSVMS. But the association’s published statements clearly establish its participation in advocating for the changes.
Where Does Zorbium® Fit?
Zorbium® (buprenorphine transdermal solution) is approved for controlling postoperative pain in cats. It is applied by veterinary personnel, not dispensed for owners to apply at home, and a single application provides approximately four days of pain control.
Because the amended statute concerns medication prescribed or dispensed for use outside the office, Zorbium® administered inside the veterinary practice generally falls outside this specific disclosure requirement.
That does not mean all professional informed-consent obligations disappear. Other standards and legal requirements may still apply. It does mean that the wording of §6715 does not cover every situation in which a pet receives a medication and continues experiencing its effects at home.
Why should the location of administration determine whether this particular disclosure law applies when a medication’s effects may continue for days at home?
FDA: Zorbium® approval and administration information.
Who Enforces Buoy’s Law?
The New York State Education Department’s Office of Professional Discipline investigates allegations of professional misconduct. Pet owners may submit complaints, and NYSED determines whether an investigation or disciplinary process is warranted.
But the existence of a complaint process does not answer whether officials conduct routine compliance checks for §6715, or how complaints specifically involving Buoy’s Law are categorized and counted.
Asking New York State for Answers
On October 28, 2026, the Zorbium® Information Center prepared a New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request seeking records from December 15, 2022, onward, including complaints received before the law took effect. The request seeks:
- Records showing complaints alleging §6715 violations.
- Investigation outcomes, closures, referrals, and disciplinary actions.
- Guidance, procedures, and training materials used to interpret and enforce the law.
- Records of any proactive reviews, audits, inspections, or compliance monitoring.
- Information on whether alleged §6715 violations have their own complaint tracking category or code.
If the state cannot provide a separate count, that would not necessarily mean no complaints were received; they might be recorded under broader professional misconduct categories. We will report the response when available.
A Complaint Is Not the Same as a Lawsuit
Filing a professional misconduct complaint with NYSED is different from suing a veterinarian. Section 6715 does not expressly establish a private right to sue simply because its disclosure requirements were violated. Whether a particular incident supports a civil claim is a separate legal question that depends on the facts and applicable law.
What Pet Owners Can Do
- Request your pet’s complete medical record, including medication administration notes, invoices, and discharge instructions.
- Record what medication was given, when it was given, and what information you received beforehand.
- Preserve relevant communications and details of suspected adverse reactions.
- Consider submitting a written complaint to NYSED’s Office of Professional Discipline.
- Report suspected veterinary drug adverse events through the FDA’s veterinary reporting guidance.
The Bottom Line
Buoy’s Law established a right to specific medication information in defined circumstances. The 2023 amendments narrowed those circumstances, and the veterinary professional association publicly supported and helped advance the revisions.
Important questions remain about how the state monitors compliance. Pet owners should not have to become investigators simply to find out what medications were given and what risks were known.
Buoy’s Law has rules. But where is the traffic cop?
Primary Sources
- New York Education Law §6715
- Senate Bill S7459 and sponsor memorandum
- NYSVMS: Buoy’s Law Call to Action
- NYSVMS: Amendment Passes Senate and Assembly
- NYSED: Professional Misconduct Enforcement
- FDA: Zorbium® approval
Information for public education and awareness, not legal or veterinary medical advice. The Zorbium® Information Center is independent and is not affiliated with Elanco or regulatory agencies.