[[1]HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Lewisboro as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Appearance tickets — See Ch. 4.
Noise — See Ch. 160.
[1]
Editor's Note: The title of this chapter was changed from "Dogs and Other Animals" to "Dogs" 4-9-2018 by L.L. No. 2-2018.
[Adopted 8-12-1980 by L.L. No. 7-1980; amended in its entirety 12-13-2010 by L.L. No. 3-2010]
A. 
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.
B. 
The Town Board of the Town of Lewisboro finds that the running at large and other uncontrolled behavior of licensed and unlicensed dogs have caused physical harm to persons, damage to property and have created nuisances within the Town. The purpose of this article 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 article is enacted pursuant to the provisions of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York.
The title of this article shall be the "Dog Control Law of the Town of Lewisboro."
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS LAW
The Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York in effect as of the effective date of this article, and as amended thereafter.
CONFINED
Such animal is securely confined or restrained or kept on the owner's premises, either within a building, kennel or other suitable enclosure or securely fastened on a chain, wire or other effective tether of such length and so arranged that the animal cannot reach or endanger any person on any adjacent premises or on any public street, way or place, or, if the animal is being transported by the owner, that it is securely confined in a crate or other container or so restrained in a vehicle that it cannot escape therefrom.
DOG
Male and female, licensed and unlicensed, members of the species Canis familiaris.
DOG CONTROL OFFICER
Any person authorized from time to time to enforce the provisions of this article or the provisions of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York.
IDENTIFIED DOGS
Any dog carrying an identification tag as provided in the Agriculture and Markets Law.
LICENSE FEE
That fee established from time to time by the Town Board, after public hearing, and as authorized by Agriculture and Markets Law, Article 7, § 110, Subdivision 1.
OWNER
The party purchasing the license unless the dog is or has been lost and such loss has been reported to the Dog Control Officer and reasonable search has been made. If an animal 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, harbors or is otherwise responsible for any animal 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 article shall be held and deemed to be the owner of such dog for the purpose of this article. In the event that the owner of any dog found to be in violation of this article is a minor, 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 article.
RUN AT LARGE
To be in a public place or on private lands without the knowledge, consent and approval of the owner of such lands.
TOWN
The area within the corporate limits of the Town of Lewisboro.
A. 
Every person owning, or harboring a dog within the Town of Lewisboro for a period of one week or more shall purchase a dog license pursuant to Article 7 of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law. Licenses shall not be required for dogs under the age of four months which are not at large. Each license issued shall be valid for a period of one year and shall not be transferable.
B. 
Fees.
(1) 
Fees for dog licenses shall be as established from time to time by resolution of the Town Board of the Town of Lewisboro. In accordance with Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law, each applicant for a dog license shall pay, in addition to the license fee established by the Town Board, a surcharge of $1 if the dog to be licensed is altered, or a fee of $3 if the dog sought to be licensed is unaltered. For licenses that are more than 30 days past due for renewal, a late fee will be imposed, in an amount to be determined from time to time by the Town Board.
(2) 
Exempted from payment of the license fee are applications submitted for a dog license for any guide, hearing, service, war, working search, detection, police and therapy dogs.
C. 
It shall be the duty of the Dog Control Officer to issue appearance tickets to the owners of unlicensed dogs, penalties for which are as prescribed by § 118 of the Agriculture and Markets Law.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any owner of any dog in the Town of Lewisboro to permit or allow such dog to:
(1) 
Run at large unless the dog is restrained by an adequate leash.
[Amended 6-30-2014 by L.L. No. 2-2014]
(2) 
Be off leash on any Town-owned or Town-controlled land, unless such dog is accompanied by its owner, and at the time it is off leash it is participating in an authorized dog training program pursuant to a valid permit issued by the Town for such program.
[Amended 6-30-2014 by L.L. No. 2-2014]
(3) 
Engage in habitual loud howling, barking, crying or whining or conduct itself in such a manner as to unreasonably and habitually disturb the comfort or repose of any person other than the owner of such dog.
(4) 
Uproot, dig or otherwise damage any vegetables, lawns, flowers, garden beds or other property not belonging to the owner of such dog.
(5) 
Chase, jump upon or at or otherwise harass any person in such a manner as to reasonably cause intimidation or fear or to put such person in reasonable apprehension of bodily harm or injury.
(6) 
Habitually chase, run alongside of or bark at motor vehicles while on a public street or highway or upon public or private property other than property of the owner or harborer of said dog.
(7) 
Create a nuisance by digging on public property or private property other than the property of said owner. It shall be the responsibility of said owner to pick up after their dog if it defecates on public property or private property other than the property of said owner, and to properly dispose of such waste.
[Amended 4-9-2018 by L.L. No. 2-2018]
(8) 
If a female dog, be off the owner's premises when in heat.
B. 
Establishment of the fact or facts that the owner of a dog has allowed or permitted such dog to commit any of the acts prohibited by this section of this article shall be presumptive evidence against the owner or harborer of such dog that he has failed to properly confine, leash or control his dog.
This article shall be enforced by a Dog Control Officer, as defined herein, and violations shall be punishable under the Penal Law of the State of New York.
A. 
The Dog Control Officer shall seize any dog found running at large in violation of this article, and such dog shall be impounded and properly sheltered, fed and watered for the redemption period as hereinafter provided.
B. 
Each dog which is not identified, whether or not licensed, shall be held for a period of seven days from the day seized, during which period the dog may be redeemed by its owner, provided that such owner produces proof that the dog is licensed and is identified pursuant to the provisions of the Agriculture and Markets Law, and further provided that the owner pays the impoundment fees as may be established by the Town Board by resolution at a public meeting.
C. 
Promptly upon seizure of any identified dog, the owner of record of such dog shall be notified personally of the facts of seizure and the procedure for redemption. Such dog shall be held for a period of seven days after the day of notice, during which period the dog may be redeemed by the owner. The owner may redeem such dog upon payment of the impoundment fees prescribed by Subsection B above and by producing proof that the dog is licensed.
D. 
An owner shall forfeit title to any dog unredeemed at the expiration of the appropriate redemption period, and the dog shall then be made available for adoption or euthanized, provided that no such dog shall be delivered for adoption unless it has been licensed. An adoption fee of $10 shall be remitted to the Town of Lewisboro.
E. 
The owner of an impounded dog shall be liable for the impoundment fees, whether or not the dog is redeemed.
F. 
No action shall be maintained against the Town of Lewisboro, any duly designated Dog Control Officer or any other agent or officer of the Town to recover the possession or value of any dog or for damages for injury or compensation for the destruction of any dog seized or destroyed pursuant to the provisions of this article.
A. 
Any person who observes a dog in violation of this article may file a complaint under oath with a Town Justice specifying the nature of the violation, the date thereof, a description of the dog and the name and address, if known, of the owner of the dog.
B. 
Upon receipt by the Town Justice of such complaint, he shall summon the alleged owner to appear in person before him for a hearing, at which both the complainant and the owner shall have an opportunity to be represented by counsel and to present evidence. If after such hearing the Town Justice decides that further action is warranted, he may order:
(1) 
The owner to restrain such dog by collar and leash at all times whether on or off the owner's property.
(2) 
The owner to confine such dog to the premises of the owner.
(3) 
Such other remedy authorized by law as may be warranted by the circumstances in such a case.
C. 
A violation of any order issued by a Town Justice under the provisions of this section shall be an offense punishable, upon conviction thereof, as provided in § 105-10 of this article.
Any violation of this article shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $50 nor in excess of $100 per dog per incident, except that:
A. 
Where the person was found to have violated this article within the preceding one year, it shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor in excess of $300 per dog per incident.
B. 
Where the person was found to have committed two or more such violations within the preceding one year, it shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $300 per dog per incident or a maximum of $600 per dog per incident.