[Adopted 12-17-1979 by L.L. No. 5-1979]
The purpose and intent of this article shall be to preserve the public peace and good order of the Town of Cazenovia, Madison County, New York, to contribute to the public welfare and to the preservation and protection of the property and person of the inhabitants of said Town by declaring and enforcing certain regulations and restrictions on activities of dogs and owners of dogs within the Town.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 2, Exclusions, which immediately followed this section, was deleted 12-8-2003 by L.L. No. 2-2003.
[Amended 12-13-2010 by L.L. No. 7-2010[1]]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ADOPTION
The delivery to any natural person 18 years of age or older, for the limited purpose of harboring a pet, of any dog, seized or surrendered.
AT LARGE
Any dog shall be deemed at large when it is off the property of its owner and not under restraint.
DOG
Any member of the species Canis familiaris.
DOG CONTROL OFFICER
Any individual appointed by the Town of Cazenovia to assist in the enforcement of this chapter and Article 7 of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law or any authorized officer, agent or employee of an incorporated humane society or similar incorporated dog protective association under contract with the Town of Cazenovia to assist in the enforcement of this chapter.
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 with the state during the period such dog is being trained or bred for such purpose.
HARBOR
To provide food or shelter to any dog.
IDENTIFICATION TAG
A tag which sets forth an official identification number, as required by the provisions of this chapter.
IDENTIFIED DOG
Any dog carrying an identification tag, as provided in Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law.
OFFICIAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
A series or combination of letters, numbers or symbols approved and furnished by the Town of Cazenovia.
OWNER
Any person who keeps, harbors, or is in lawful custody, of any dog.
OWNER OF RECORD
The person in whose name any dog was last licensed pursuant to this chapter and/or Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law, 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.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, partnership, association or other organized group of persons, municipality, or other legal entity.
PERSON WITH A DISABILITY
Any person with a disability as that term is defined in Subdivision 21 of § 292 of the Executive Law.
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.
RECOGNIZED REGISTRY ASSOCIATION
Any registry association that operates on a nationwide basis, issues numbered registration certificates and keeps such records as may be required by the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets.
RESTRAINT
A dog is under restraint when it is controlled by a leash or in the presence of a competent person and obedient to that person's commands, or on or within a vehicle being driven or parked on the street, or within the property limits of its owner or owner of record, or upon the premises of another with the consent of such other person.
TOWN CLERK
Town of Cazenovia Town Clerk.
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also provided for an effective date of 1-1-2011.
[Amended 12-8-2003 by L.L. No. 2-2003]
The position of Dog Control Officer may be created by the Town Board of the Town of Cazenovia, and such Dog Control Officer shall have all of the powers of a peace officer in the execution of this article and in the execution of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law, including the service of summons and the service and execution of any other order of process. Every dog seized by the Dog Control Officer shall be maintained, redeemed, sold or destroyed in accordance with Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law.
A. 
No owner shall permit or allow a dog to run at large within the Town of Cazenovia, unless such dog shall be restrained as provided in the definition of "restraint" in § 52-2 herein.
B. 
No dog shall be permitted to cause damage or destruction to property, or commit a nuisance, or to defecate upon the premises of a person, other than to or upon the premises of the owner or person harboring such dog.
C. 
No owner shall keep or harbor a dog which howls or barks so as to disturb the peace and quiet of other persons.
D. 
No dog shall be permitted to chase or otherwise harass any person in such manner as to reasonably cause intimidation or to put such person in reasonable apprehension of bodily harm or injury, except in defense of property or inhabitants.
E. 
No dog shall be permitted to chase or bark at moving motor vehicles, bicycles, animals or snowmobiles.
F. 
No unspayed female dog in season shall be permitted to be outside a building or a fence enclosure, except that the owner may exercise such dog while on a securely fastened leash not more than six feet long.
G. 
No owner shall fail to provide dogs with sufficient good and wholesome food and water, proper shelter and protection from the weather, veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering and with humane care and treatment.
[Amended 12-13-2010 by L.L. No. 7-2010]
Owning or harboring a dog within the Town of Cazenovia, unless such dog is licensed as required by the provisions of this chapter and the Agriculture and Markets Law, shall be an offense or violation. The fact that a dog is without a license tag, attached to a collar, shall be presumptive evidence that the dog is unlicensed.
A. 
Any person who observes a dog violating or which is being permitted to violate any of the restrictions set forth in § 52-4 herein may file a complaint, signed under oath, with the Town Justice, Town of Cazenovia, specifying the violation, the date thereof, damage, if any, caused, a description of the dog, and the name and residence, if known, of the owner or other person harboring such dog.
B. 
Upon receipt by the Town Justice of any complaint against the conduct of any particular dog, or the owner thereof, the Town Justice shall, upon a three-day notice, summon the alleged owner or other person harboring said dog to appear in person before him to answer to said complaint. If the summons is disregarded, the Justice may permit the filing of an information and issue a warrant for the arrest of such person.
[Added 8-13-1984 by L.L. No. 4-1984; amended 12-13-2010 by L.L. No. 7-2010]
A. 
The Dog Control Officer or any peace officer shall seize any dog which is not licensed, whether on or off the owner's premises.
B. 
The Dog Control Officer or any peace officer may seize any dog in violation of this chapter.
C. 
Each dog seized shall be properly sheltered, fed and watered.
D. 
The owner of any dog impounded by the Dog Control Officer shall be entitled to redeem that dog within five business days, excluding the day the dog is impounded, from the day the dog is impounded, provided that the owner produces proof the dog is licensed and identified and pays a fee, the amount of which shall be established by resolution of the Town Board and is on file with the Town Clerk. Such impoundment fees may thereafter be amended by resolution of the Town Board.
E. 
As the property of the Town of Cazenovia, after receipt, all impoundment fees shall be remitted by the Town Clerk to the Town Supervisor on or before the fifth day of each month.
[Amended 12-8-2003 by L.L. No. 2-2003; 12-13-2010 by L.L. No. 7-2010; 4-8-2024 by L.L. No. 2-2024]
A. 
Except as otherwise punishable as provided in Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law, any offense of this chapter shall be deemed a violation and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $50, except that:
(1) 
Where the person was found to have violated this chapter within the preceding five years, the fine may not be more than $100; and
(2) 
Where the person was found to have committed two or more violations within the preceding five years, it shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $200.
B. 
Each day that an offense continues shall constitute a separate violation.
[Amended 12-8-2003 by L.L. No. 2-2003]
A. 
Any violation of this article observed by or acted upon by the Dog Control Officer shall subject the owner of such dog to civil penalties which shall be in addition to or instead of such other penalty or fine as may be provided for in this article or pursuant to Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law.
B. 
For the first violation of this chapter, the Dog Control Officer shall, upon determination and identification of the dog, serve, mail or deliver a notice of first violation specifying the time, place, date and nature of violation upon the owner of the dog, and which notice shall instruct the owner to report at the Town Clerk's office of the Town of Cazenovia, New York, in regard to said violation. Such owner shall, within seven days of the time at which such notice was served, mailed or delivered, pay to the Town, as additional civil penalty for such violation, the sum of $25.
[Amended 12-13-2010 by L.L. No. 7-2010]
C. 
For a second violation of this chapter within the preceding five years, the Dog Control Officer may, upon determination and identification of the dog, seize the same and hold the same for redemption or otherwise as provided herein. In addition to such seizure and in any event, whether or not such seizure is made, the Dog Control Officer shall serve, mail or deliver to the owner of the dog a notice of second violation, and which notice shall instruct the owner to report to the Town Clerk's office in regard to such violation. Such owner shall, within 12 days of the time when such notice was served, mailed or delivered, pay to the Town, as an additional civil penalty for such violation, the sum of $50.
[Amended 12-13-2010 by L.L. No. 7-2010]
D. 
Where a person is found to have committed two or more such violations of this chapter within the preceding five years, in addition to seizure, as set forth in Subsection C, and in any event, whether or not such seizure is made, the Dog Control Officer shall serve, mail or deliver to the owner of the dog a notice of violation, and which notice shall instruct the owner to report to the Town Clerk's office in regard to such violation. Such owner shall, within 12 days of the time when such notice was served, mailed or delivered, pay to the Town, as an additional civil penalty for such violation, the sum of $100.
[Added 12-13-2010 by L.L. No. 7-2010[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also redesignated former Subsection D as Subsection E.
E. 
Failure to make payment.
(1) 
The failure of such owner to make payment to the Town Clerk shall render the owner subject to a civil action in the name of the Town to recover from the owner the applicable penalty established in this section.
(2) 
Each day that failure continues shall constitute a separate violation.
[Added 12-13-2010 by L.L. No. 7-2010]