[Adopted 9-2-1970 (Ch. 38 of the 1967 Code)]
[Amended 9-28-2010 by L.L. No. 6-2010]
The title of this article shall be the "Dog Control Law of the
City of Glens Falls."
[Amended 9-28-2010 by L.L. No. 6-2010]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The City of Glens Falls.
Male and female, licensed and unlicensed, members of the
species Canis familiaris.
Person entitled to claim lawful custody and possession of
a dog 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 Animal 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, harbors or is otherwise
responsible for any dog which is kept, brought or comes within the
City. Any person owning or harboring a dog for a period of one week
prior to filing 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 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 in violation of this article.
[Amended 9-28-2010 by L.L. No. 6-2010]
A.
All dogs
in the City of Glens Falls must be licensed with the City Clerk by
the age of four months. Owners are required to present a current certificate
of rabies vaccination at the time of licensing or the renewal of an
existing license.
B.
All dog
licenses will be for a period of one year and will expire at the end
of the month one year from the date of issue.
[Amended 12-18-1997 by L.L. No. 8-1997]
It shall be the duty of the owner or person harboring any female
dog to confine such dog during the period when it is in heat inside
the house of such owner or person in possession of the dog.
[Amended 4-6-1995]
No dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, muzzled or not muzzled,
shall be allowed to run at large in any street, sidewalk, lane or
public place unless said dog is effectively restrained by a chain
or leash, not exceeding six feet in length, affixed to the collar
or harness of the dog.
[Amended 8-1-1996 by L.L. No. 2-1996]
A.
It shall be unlawful for any owner of any dog to permit or allow
such dog to create a nuisance by defecating on public property within
the City of Glens Falls, or the private property of any property owner
within the City of Glens Falls, unless such defecation is immediately
removed by the dog's owner.
B.
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, harbor or maintain any
dog which engages in unduly loud howling or barking habitually or
conducts itself in such a manner as to unduly annoy any person other
than the owner.
A.
Any person who observes a dog causing damage or destruction to the
property of a person other than its owner or committing a nuisance
upon the premises of a person other than its owner or running at large
or otherwise violating the provisions of this article, may file a
signed complaint, under oath, with the Animal Control Officer specifying
the objectionable conduct of the dog, the date thereof, the damage
caused, a description of dog and the name and residence, if known,
of the owner or other person harboring said dog.
[Amended 12-18-1997 by L.L. No. 8-1997]
B.
Upon receipt of a complaint, the City Court may summon the alleged
owner or other person harboring said dog to appear in person before
the City Court. If the summons is disregarded, the City Court may
permit the filing of an information and issue a warrant for the arrest
of such person.
[Amended 12-18-1997 by L.L. No. 8-1997]
Any person who is chased or otherwise harassed by any dog in
such a manner as reasonably to cause intimidation or to put such person
in reasonable apprehension of bodily harm or injury or any person
who witnesses such offensive conduct by any dog may file a signed
complaint in accordance with § 121 of the Agriculture and
Markets Law, under oath, with the Animal Control Officer, stating
the specific objectionable conduct of the dog, the date thereof and
the place of occurrence and a description of the dog and name and
residence, if known, of the person harassed and the owner or other
person harboring said dog; or, in the alternative, the person so harassed
by a dog may file with the City Court any information charging a violation
of this article.
Where a complaint has been filed or an information has or dogs
of bodily harm or injury, the City Court shall cause notice of such
complaint and the general nature thereof to be served upon the alleged
owner or other person claimed to be harboring said dog, and the City
Court may summon the alleged owner or other person claimed to be harboring
said dog to appear before the City Court. If the summons is disregarded,
the City Court may permit the filing of an information and issue a
warrant for the arrest of such person.
[Amended 12-18-1997 by L.L. No. 8-1997]
Where a complaint has been filed or an information has been filed charging a violation of any of the provisions of this article, the City Judge shall hold a hearing, in accordance with § 121 of the Agriculture and Markets Law, thereon, and if satisfied, after inquiry into and investigation of the charge that the dog's conduct was offensive and in violation of this article, then the City Judge may order the owner or other person harboring said dog to confine the dog to the premises of the owner for a period of time in his discretion or impose the penalties set forth in § 91-34 of this article.
[Amended 12-18-1997 by L.L. No. 8-1997]
Any dog found at large and not under effective restraint or in the immediate custody and control of the owner or a responsible person who is over 12 years of age, as required by § 91-24, may be seized by any duly appointed Animal Control Officer, peace officer or duly authorized officer or representative of the City of Glens Falls or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and confined and impounded. Any dog so found at large not under effective restraint, which cannot be safely seized, may be destroyed by such Animal Control Officer, peace officer or other duly authorized officer.
[Amended 12-18-1997 by L.L. No. 8-1997]
Any dog impounded under the provisions of this article shall
be confined in accordance with the provisions of the Agriculture and
Markets Law of the State of New York and may be redeemed by the owner
or harborer thereof upon payment to the City Clerk of Glens Falls
of a local fee and those sums set forth in the Agriculture and Markets
Law. Any dog not so redeemed shall, at the option of the Animal Control
Officer, be destroyed by the Animal Control Officer or peace officer.
All proceedings shall be in accordance with the provisions of the
Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 38-14, violation constitutes
disorderly conduct, which immediately followed this section, was deleted
12-18-1997 by L.L. No. 8-1997.
[Amended 9-28-2010 by L.L. No. 6-2010]
The City of Glens Falls shall exempt from its licensing fees
any guide dog, hearing dog, service dog, war dog, working search dog,
detection dog, police work dog or therapy dog. Each copy of any license
for such dogs shall be conspicuously marked "Guide Dog," "Hearing
Dog," "Service Dog," "War Dog," "Working Search Dog,” "Detection
Dog," "Police Work Dog" or "Therapy Dog," as may be appropriate, by
the City Clerk or authorized Dog Control Officer.
[Added 9-19-1979; amended 3-12-1985; 5-5-1987 by Res. No. 91; 12-18-1997 by L.L. No. 8-1997; 9-28-2010 by L.L. No. 6-2010]
A.
The annual fee for a spayed or neutered dog will be $5, which, under
state law, includes the assessment of a surcharge of $1 for the purpose
of carrying out the New York State Animal Population Control Fund.
B.
The annual fee of an unspayed or unneutered dog will be $13 which,
under state law, includes the assessment of a surcharge of $3 for
the purpose of carrying out New York State Animal Population Control
Fund.
C.
The annual fee for a purebred license will be $25, $50 or $100, depending
upon the number of registered purebred dogs or purebred dogs eligible
for registration over the age of four months harbored on the premises
at the time of application. In addition, a surcharge of $1 will be
assessed for a spayed/neutered dog, and a surcharge of $3 will be
assessed for an un-spayed/un-neutered dog, for the purpose of carrying
out New York State Animal Population Control Fund for each purebred
dog licensed.
D.
The fee for a lost license tag will be $3.
E.
The City of Glens Falls, per § 91-32, will not charge a fee for guide dogs and other service dogs.
F.
All dog licenses may be purchased by visiting the City Clerk's office
or by mail. If licensing or renewing a license by mail, the appropriate
fee(s) must accompany the forms. There will be no refund of fees.
G.
All fees will be used in funding the administration of the Dog Control
Law of the City of Glens Falls. All fees may be reviewed by the Glens
Falls Common Council periodically and may be changed by Common Council
legislation, if deemed necessary.
H.
Seizure and impoundment fees shall be as follows:
[Amended 1-28-2020 by Res. No. 29]
(1)
For the first impoundment of any dog: $10 for the first day, plus
room and boarding charges of $20 for each additional day.
(2)
For the second impoundment of any dog owned by a person whose dog
is seized within one year of the first impoundment: $20 for the first
day, plus room and boarding charges of $20 for each additional day.
(3)
For the third impoundment of any dog owned by a person whose dog
is seized within one year of the first impoundment: $30 for the first
day, plus room and boarding charges of $20 for each additional day.
First-day impoundment fees for subsequent impoundments within one
year of first impoundment shall each increase by $10.
I.
Impoundment fees for stray dogs shall be in conformance with the
rates set forth in the current agreement between the City of Glens
Falls and the Countryside Veterinary Hospital.
J.
Euthanasia and transport fees, fees for cremation based upon weight
and spay/neuter fees for dogs not euthanized are solely determined
by Countryside Veterinary Hospital and payable to Countryside Veterinary
Hospital.
[Amended 7-12-1983]
A.
Any person violating the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction
thereof, be subject to a fine of not more than $250 or to imprisonment
for a term not to exceed 15 days, or both.
[Amended 12-18-1997 by L.L. No. 8-1997]
B.
Each day or part thereof that the violation is permitted, including
days during which a dog is at large or confined to the pound, shall
constitute a separate offense, and said fine or penalty shall be in
addition to any redemption fee hereinabove provided for.
