Plaintiff was bitten by the dog that she adopted from Animal Haven, Inc. and sued that entity for personal injuries stemming from the bite. In affirming the decision to dismiss the complaint, this court noted that the adopting parties signed a contract a the time of adoption where they undertook a "lifetime commitment" for the responsible care of the dog. While the contract stipulated that Animal Haven had the right to have the dog returned if the plaintiff breached the contract, this did not reserve a right of ownership of the dog. Further, the contract also explicitly relieved Animal Haven of liability once the dog was in the possession of the adoptive parties.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Joan A. Madden, J.), entered February *371 28, 2012, which, in this action for personal injuries sustained by plaintiff when she was bitten by a dog, granted the motion of defendant Animal Haven, Inc. (Animal Haven) to dismiss the complaint as against it, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
When defendant Skimbirauskas adopted the subject dog from Animal Haven, the parties signed a contract whereby Skimbirauskas agreed to assume a “lifetime commitment” for the responsible care of the dog. Although Animal Haven reserved the right to have the dog returned if Skimbirauskas breached the contract's provisions, the purpose of doing so was clearly to protect the well-being of the dog, not to reserve ownership. Indeed, the contract provides that Skimbirauskas explicitly “release[s] Animal Haven from all liability once the animal is in [his] possession,” and “that the adoption of this pet is at [his] own risk and that the destruction of any personal or private property is [his] responsibility.” Accordingly, dismissal of the complaint as against Animal Haven was proper since it was not the dog's owner ( see CPLR 3211[a][1]; Leon v. Martinez, 84 N.Y.2d 83, 88, 614 N.Y.S.2d 972, 638 N.E.2d 511 [1994]; see also Administrative Code of City of N.Y. § 17–802[a] [“ ‘Adoption’ means the delivery of a dog ... deemed appropriate and suitable by an animal shelter to an individual ... who has been approved to own, care and provide for the animal by the animal shelter” (emphasis added) ] ).
We have considered plaintiff's remaining arguments, and find them unavailing.
N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept.,2013.