[Adopted 7-26-1983 by L.L. No 8-1983]
[Amended 11-23-2010 by L.L. No. 10-2010]
A. 
Pursuant to the provisions of §§ 109 and 110 of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, all dogs over the age of four months shall be licensed by the Town Clerk of the Town of Niskayuna.
B. 
Each application for a dog license shall be accompanied by a fee as specified in a fee schedule to be established and revised from time to time by resolution of the Town Board. There shall be an additional fee of one dollar for altered dogs and an additional fee of three dollars for unaltered dogs for the purposes of carrying out animal population control efforts as provided in § 117-a of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York. Applicants for a dog license by one or more persons, each of whom is 65 years of age or older, shall pay a reduced fee for altered and unaltered dogs.
C. 
A license shall not be issued or renewed unless the applicant provides a current rabies certificate or a statement certified by a licensed veterinarian stating that because of old age or other reason, the life of the dog or dogs would be endangered by the administration of the vaccine. The Town of Niskayuna will not provide a purebred license.
D. 
All licenses issued pursuant to this article, and any renewal thereof, shall expire on the last day of the last month of the period for which they are issued except that no license shall be issued for a period expiring after the last day of the eleventh month following the expiration date of the current rabies certificate for the dog being licensed. In the event an applicant for a license or renewal presents a statement certified by a licensed veterinarian, in lieu of a rabies certificate, then the license or renewal shall be issued for one year from the date of the statement.
E. 
Guide dogs, hearing dogs, service dogs, war dogs, working search dogs, detection dogs, police work dogs, and therapy dogs, as defined in § 108 of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, shall be exempt from all license fees.
F. 
When the Town Board determines the need for a dog enumeration, a fee to be established and revised from time to time by resolution of the Town Board will be assessed to all dogs found unlicensed or renewed at the time the enumeration is conducted.
G. 
The Town of Niskayuna may enter into an agreement with a local animal shelter that may allow the shelter to issue licenses pursuant to this section with all fees associated with such licensing transferred to the Town.
H. 
In the event of a change in the ownership of any dog which has been licensed pursuant to this article or in the address of the owner of record of any such dog, the owner or record shall, within 10 days of such change, file with the Town Clerk a written report of such change. Such owner of record shall be liable for any violation of this chapter until such filing is made or until the dog is licensed in the name of the new owner.
I. 
If any dog which has been licensed pursuant to this article is lost or stolen, the owner of record shall, within 10 days of the discovery of such loss or theft, file with the Town Clerk a written report of such loss or theft. In the case of a loss or theft, the owner of record of any such dog shall not be liable for any violation of this chapter committed after such report is filed.
J. 
In the case of a dog's death, the owner of record shall so notify the Town Clerk either prior to renewal of licensure or upon the time of such renewal.