The Town Board of the Town of Crawford finds
that the running at large and other uncontrolled behavior of licensed
and unlicensed dogs have caused physical harm to persons and damage
to property and have created nuisances within the Town. The purpose
of this chapter is to protect the health, safety and well-being of
persons and property by imposing restrictions on the keeping and running
at large of dogs within the Town.
This chapter is enacted pursuant to the provisions
of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law and the Municipal
Home Rule Law of the State of New York.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
AT LARGE
An unleashed dog off the premises of the owner.
DOG
Male and female, licensed and unlicensed, members of the
species Canis familiaris.
DOG CONTROL OFFICER
A person or persons appointed by the Town Board for the purpose
of enforcing this chapter.
LEASHED
Restrained by a leash attached to a collar or harness of
sufficient strength to restrain the dog and which shall be held by
a person having the ability to control the dog.
OWNER
Person entitled to claim lawful custody and possession of
a dog and who is responsible for purchasing the license for such dog
unless the dog is or has been lost, and such loss was promptly reported
to the Dog Control Officer, and a reasonable search has been made.
If a dog is not licensed, the term "owner" shall designate and cover
any person or persons, firm, association or corporation who or which
at any time owns or has custody or control of or harbors or is otherwise
responsible for any dog which is kept, brought or comes within the
Town. Any person owning or harboring a dog for a period of one week
prior to the filing of any complaint charging a violation of this
chapter shall be held and deemed to be the owner of such dog for the
purpose of this chapter. In the event that the owner of any dog found
to be in violation of this chapter shall be under 18 years of age,
the head of the household in which said minor resides shall be deemed
to have custody and control of said dog and shall be responsible for
any acts of said dog and violation of this chapter.
TOWN
The Town of Crawford.
It shall be unlawful for any owner of any dog
to permit or allow such dog to:
A. Run at large unless the dog is restrained by an adequate
leash. For the purpose of this chapter, a dog or dogs hunting in company
of a hunter or hunters shall be considered as accompanied by its or
their owner(s).
B. Be off the owner's property unless leashed.
C. Engage in habitual loud howling, barking or whining
or to conduct itself in such a manner as to habitually annoy any person
other than the owner or harborer of the dog.
D. Cause damage or destruction to public or private property,
defecate, urinate or otherwise commit a nuisance upon property other
than that of the owner or harborer of the dog.
E. Bite, chase, jump upon or otherwise harass any person
in such a manner as to cause intimidation or to put such person in
reasonable apprehension of bodily harm or injury.
F. Habitually chase, run alongside of or bark at motor
vehicles, motorcycles or bicycles while on a public street, highway
or place or upon private property.
G. Kill or injure any dog, cat or other household pet.
H. Be unlicensed when four months of age or older.
[Amended 12-9-2010 by L.L. No. 3-2010]
I. Not have a current and valid New York State identification
tag on its collar while at large, whether or not restrained by an
adequate leash.
All female dogs shall be confined to premises
of their owners while such are in season (heat) and may not be left
outside unattended. Any owner not adhering to this rule will be subject
to having the dog seized by the Dog Control Officer and removed to
a safe place of confinement.
All premises occupied or used by dogs shall
be kept in a clean, sanitary condition. Failure to provide adequate
food, water or space shall subject dogs to seizure and confinement.
"Adequate" shall mean sufficient for age, size and number of dogs
on the premises. Upon conviction of the owner or harborer, the dogs
become the property of the Town of Crawford, to be released to an
authorized humane society, veterinarian or kennel for adoption or
euthanasia.
Upon taking custody of any animal, the Dog Control
Officer shall make a record of the matter. The record shall include
the date of pickup, breed, a general description, sex, identification
numbers: time of pickup, location of seizure and name and address
of the owner, if any.
[Amended 4-9-1987 by L.L. No. 4-1987; 12-9-2010 by L.L. No.
3-2010]
Impoundment and seizure of dogs pursuant to this article shall be in the same manner as set forth in §
71-22.
[Amended 4-9-1987 by L.L. No. 4-1987; 12-9-2010 by L.L. No.
3-2010]
The impoundment fees shall be subject to the terms set forth in §
71-22.
Any person who observes a dog in violation of
this chapter may file a signed complaint, under oath, with a Town
Justice or with the authorized Dog Control Officer, specifying the
nature of the violation, the date thereof, a description of the dog
and the name and residence, if known, of the owner of such dog. Such
complaint may serve as the basis for enforcing the provisions of this
chapter.
The Dog Control Officer or peace officer observing
a violation of this chapter in his presence shall issue and serve
an appearance ticket for such violation.
[Amended 12-9-2010 by L.L. No. 3-2010]
Enforcement and penalties for offenses pursuant to this article shall be in the same manner as set forth in §
71-23.
The owner of any dog destroyed under the provisions
of this chapter, whether destroyed by the Dog Control Officer or a
peace officer or released to an authorized humane society, veterinarian
or kennel, shall not be entitled to any compensation, and no action
shall be maintainable thereafter to recover the value of such dog
or any other type of damage.
[Adopted 12-9-2010 by L.L. No. 3-2010]
The purpose of this article is to provide for the licensing
and identification of dogs, the control and protection of the dog
population and the protection of persons, property, domestic animals
and deer from dog attack and damage.
As used in this article, the following terms have the meanings
indicated:
ADOPTION
The delivery of a dog to any natural person 18 years of age
or older for the purpose of harboring a dog that has been seized or
surrendered.
CLERK
The Town Clerk of the Town of Crawford, where licenses are
validated or issued pursuant to this article.
COMMISSIONER
The State Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets.
DANGEROUS DOG
A.
Any which:
(1)
Without justification attacks a person, companion animal, farm
animal, or domestic animal and causes physical injury or death; or
(2)
Behaves in a manner which a reasonable person would believe
poses a serious and unjustified imminent threat of serious physical
injury or death to one or more persons, companion animals, farm animals,
or domestic animals; or
(3)
Without justification attacks a service dog, guide dog or hearing
dog and causes physical injury or death.
B.
Does not include a police work dog, which acts in the manner
described in this section while such police work dog is being used
to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance
of their official duties.
DETECTION DOG
Any dog that is trained and is actually used for such purposes
or is undergoing training to be used for the purpose of detecting
controlled substances, explosives, ignitable liquids, firearms, cadavers,
or school or correctional facility contraband.
DOG
Any member of the species Canis familiaris.
DOG CONTROL OFFICER
Any individual appointed by the Town Board to assist in the
enforcement of this article or any authorized officer, agent or employee
of an incorporated humane society or similar incorporated dog protection
association under contract with the Town to assist in the enforcement
of this article.
GUIDE DOG
Any dog that is trained to aid a person who is blind and
is actually used for such purpose, or any dog owned by a recognized
guide dog training center located within the state during the period
such dog is being trained or bred for such purpose.
HARBOR
To provide food or shelter to any dog.
HEARING DOG
Any dog that is trained to aid a person with a hearing impairment
and is actually used for such purpose, or any dog owned by a recognized
training center located within the State of New York during the period
such dog is being trained or bred for such purpose.
IDENTIFICATION TAG
A tag issued by the Town of Crawford which sets forth an
identification number, together with the name of the Town, the State
of New York, contact information, including telephone number for the
Town and such other information as the Town Board deems appropriate.
IDENTIFIED DOG
Any dog carrying an identification tag, are required by the
provisions set forth in this article.
OWNER
Any person who harbors or keeps any dog.
OWNER OF RECORD
The person in whose name any dog was last licensed pursuant
to this article, except that if any license is issued on application
of a person under 18 years of age, the owner of record shall be deemed
to be the parent or guardian of such person. If it cannot be determined
in whose name any dog was last licensed or if the owner of record
has filed a statement pursuant to the provisions of § 112
of the state Agriculture and Markets Law, the owner shall be deemed
to be the owner of record of such dog, except that if the owner is
under 18 years of age, the owner of record shall be deemed to be the
parent or guardian of such person.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, partnership, association or
other organized group of persons, municipality, or other legal entity.
POLICE WORK DOG
Any dog owned or harbored by any state or municipal police
department or any state or federal law enforcement agency, which has
been trained to aid law enforcement officers and is actually being
used for police work purposes.
SERVICE DOG
Any dog that has been or is being individually trained to
do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability,
provided that the dog is or will be owned by such person or that person's
parent, guardian or other legal representative.
THERAPY DOG
Any dog that is trained to aid the emotional and physical
health of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, retirement homes and
other settings and is actually used for such purpose, or any dog owned
by a recognized training center located within the state during the
period such dog is being trained or bred for such purpose.
WAR DOG
Any dog which has been honorably discharged from the United
States Armed Services.
WORKING SEARCH DOG
Any dog that is trained to aid in the search for missing
persons and is actually used for such purposes; provided, however,
that such services provided by said dog shall be performed without
charge or fee.
The Town may establish and maintain a pound or shelter for dogs.
In lieu of or in addition to establishing and maintaining such pound
or shelter, the Town may contract for pound or shelter services with
any other municipality or with any incorporated humane society or
similar incorporated dog protective association, or shall establish
and maintain, jointly or with one or more other municipalities, a
pound or shelter.