This chapter shall be known as the "Cat Control Law of the Village of
Chittenango."
The purpose and intent of this chapter shall be to preserve the public
peace and good order of the Village of Chittenango and to contribute to the
public welfare and the preservation and protection of the property and the
person of the inhabitants of said village by declaring and enforcing certain
regulations and restrictions on activities of cats and owners of cats within
the village.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
ABANDONED
A cat of any age which shall be left without either food, water or
shelter, or unattended for a period of at least 72 hours.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
The person or persons appointed by the Village Board to the position
of Animal Control Officer, charged to carry out enforcement of the provisions
of this chapter. This person shall have the powers of a constable or other
peace officer in the execution of the provisions of this chapter.
CAT
Any member of the domestic feline species.
OWNER
When applied to the proprietorship of a cat, shall include any person
having a right of property or custody in such cat and any person who has such
cat in his/her keeping or who harbors or maintains a cat or knowingly permits
a cat to remain on or about any premises or vehicle owned or occupied by that
person. If the owner of the cat is a minor, the owner of the cat shall be
deemed to be the parent or guardian of the minor for the purpose of this chapter.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, partnership, organization or association
of persons commonly recognized as such by law.
This chapter shall apply to all cats harbored within the Village of
Chittenango.
Neither the Commissioner of Public Safety nor any police or peace officer
designated for that purpose by the Commissioner of Public Safety, the Animal
Control Officer, the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or any similar
organization designated by the Commissioner of Public Safety may arrest or
cite by appearance ticket any person for violation of this chapter unless
he personally witnesses the violation, except that, upon written complaint
signed by the complainant and filed with said officer, he may cause an accusatory
instrument to be filed before the court charging the violation and requesting
the issuance of a summons naming the owner to be served pursuant to the requirements
of § 130.40 of the Criminal Procedure Law.
No person shall hinder, molest or interfere with anyone authorized or
empowered to perform any duty under this chapter.
Wherever there shall appear in this chapter a reference to "he" or "she"
or words of similar import, such shall be considered inclusive of both sexes
and shall also include the plural, without exclusion.
This chapter shall take effect on or about February 1, 1993.