[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of Chester as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
[Adopted 12-7-1982 by L.L. No. 4-1982]
This article repeals and replaces Local Law
No. 1 of the year 1975 entitled "A Local Law Prohibiting Dogs Running
at Large."[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Local Law No. 1-1975 was adopted
12-16-1975 and comprised former Art. I, Running at Large, of this
chapter.
The Town of Chester, Orange County, New York,
finds that the running at large and other uncontrolled behavior of
dogs has caused physical harm to persons, damage to property and created
nuisances within the Town of Chester outside the Village of Chester.
The purpose of this article is to protect the health, safety and well-being
of persons and property by imposing restrictions and regulations upon
the keeping or running at large of dogs and the seizure thereof within
the Town outside the Village of Chester. This article shall be effective
throughout the Town of Chester, except within the Village of Chester.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any dog that is unleashed and on property open to the public
or is on private property not owned or leased by the owner of the
dog, unless permission for such presence has been obtained. No dog
shall be deemed to be at large if it is accompanied by and under the
immediate supervision and control of the owner or other responsible
person and is restrained by a leash, rope, chain, cage or motor vehicle;
a police work dog in use for public work; or accompanied by its owner
or other responsible person and is actively engaged in hunting or
training for hunting on unposted land or on posted land with the permission
of the owner of the land.
To provide food or shelter for any dog.
Any person who harbors or keeps any dog. In the event that
any dog found in violation of this article shall be owned by a person
under 18 years of age, the owner shall be deemed to be the parent
or guardian of such person (or the head of the household in which
such person resides).
The Town of Chester outside the Village of Chester.
It shall be unlawful for any owner of any dog
to permit or allow such dog, in the Town of Chester, to:
A.Â
Be at large.
B.Â
Engage in habitual loud howling, barking, crying or
whining or to conduct itself in such a manner so as to unreasonably
and habitually annoy any person.
C.Â
Cause damage or destruction to property or commit
a nuisance by defecating or urinating upon the premises of a person,
other than the owner of such dog.
D.Â
Chase or otherwise harass any person in such a manner
as reasonably to cause intimidation or to put such person in reasonable
apprehension of bodily harm or injury.
E.Â
Habitually chase, run alongside of or bark at motor
vehicles or bicycles.
This article shall be enforced by any dog control
officer, peace officer, when acting pursuant to his special duties,
or police officer in the employ of or under contract to the Town of
Chester.
[Amended 6-7-1994 by L.L. No. 2-1994]
B.Â
The dog control officer of the Town or police officer
in the employ of the Town may seize any dog found in violation of
the Agriculture and Markets Law, the Environmental Conservation Law
or any local law or ordinance relating to the control of dogs or other
pets adopted by the state or the Town of Chester pursuant to the provisions
of this article.
C.Â
Each dog seized in accordance with the provisions
of this article shall be properly sheltered, fed and watered for the
redemption period as hereinafter provided.
D.Â
Each dog which is not identified, whether or not licensed,
shall be held for a period of five 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 has been licensed, and further provided
that the owner pays the impoundment fees and fines as established
by the Town Board.
Any person who observes a dog in violation of
this article may file a complaint under oath with a Justice of the
Town of Chester specifying the nature of the violation, the date thereof,
a description of the dog and the name and residence, if known, of
the owner of such dog. Such complaint may serve as the basis for enforcing
the provisions of this article.
Any dog control officer, peace officer, when
acting pursuant to his special duties, or police officer in the employ
of or under contract to the Town of Chester having reasonable cause
to believe that a person has violated this article shall issue and
serve upon such person an appearance ticket for such violation.
[Amended 6-7-1994 by L.L. No. 2-1994]
A.Â
Any person convicted of a violation of this article
shall be liable to a civil penalty not exceeding $250 and a charge
for the boarding of said animal in an amount not to exceed $50 per
day.
B.Â
The Town Board may from time to time modify the fine(s)
and boarding charge to be assessed for violation(s) of this article
upon a resolution approved by a majority of said Board, passed at
the annual reorganization meeting or such other time as the Board
may determine. Such resolution shall be duly recorded by the Town
Clerk in the minutes of the Town Board.
[Adopted 12-15-2010 by L.L. No. 3-2010[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also repealed former Art. II,
License Fees, adopted 8-7-1979 by L.L. No. 1-1979.
The purpose of this article is to provide for the licensing
and identification of dogs. Effective January 1, 2011, the State of
New York has relinquished the responsibility of dog licensing function
to local municipalities and eliminated the Animal Population Control
Fund. Local municipalities will now be required to adopt legislation
relating to this issue.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The delivery to any natural person 18 years of age or older,
for the purpose of harboring, a dog, seized or surrendered, from the
Town's animal shelter.
Any individual appointed by the Town Board to assist in the
enforcement of this chapter.
The Town Clerk, or Deputy Town Clerk, of the Town of Chester,
where licenses are to be validated or issued.
Any dog that is trained and is actually used for such purposes
or is undergoing training to be used for the purpose of detecting
controlled substances, explosives, ignitable liquids, firearms, cadavers,
or school or correctional facility contraband.
Any member of the species canis familiaris.
Any dog that is trained to aid the Animal/Dog Control Officer
in the control of geese within the boundaries of the Town.
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 within the State of New York during
the period such dog is being trained or bred.
To provide food or shelter to any dog.
Any dog that is trained to aid a person which a hearing impairment
and is actually used for such purpose, or any dog owned by a recognized
training center located within the State of New York during the period
such dog is being trained or bred for such training.
A tag which sets forth an identification number, as required
by the provisions set forth in this article.
Any person who harbors or keeps any dog.
Any person with a disability as that term is defined in Subdivision
22 of § 292 of the New York State Executive Law.
Any dog owned or harbored by any 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 purposes.
Any resident of the Town age 65 or older.
Any dog that has been or is being individually trained to
do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability,
provided that the dog is or will be owned by such person or that person's
parent, guardian or other legal representative.
Any dog that is trained to aid the emotional and physical
health of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, retirement homes and
other settings and is actually used for such purpose, or any dog owned
by a recognized training center located within the State of New York
during the period such dog is being trained or bred for such purpose.
The Town of Chester, including incorporated areas.
Any dog which has been honorably discharged from the United
States armed services.
Any dog that is trained to aid in the search for missing
persons and is actually used for such purposes; provided, however,
that such services provided by said dog shall be performed without
charge or fee.
A.Â
Licensing of dogs.
(1)Â
The owner of any dog reaching the age of four months shall immediately
make application for a dog license. No license shall be required for
any dog under the age of four months that is not at large. A license
shall be renewed after a period of one year beginning with the first
day of the month following the date of issuance. Renewal shall be
for a period of one year, but the Town Board, by Resolution, shall
have the right to modify the renewal period for up to three years.
(2)Â
Application for a dog license shall be made to the Clerk.
(3)Â
The application shall state the sex, actual or approximate year of
birth, breed, color(s), and official identification number of the
dog, and other identification makers, if any, and the name, address,
telephone number, county and town of residence of owner.
(4)Â
The application shall be accompanied by a license fee as listed below
and a valid certificate of rabies vaccination or statement in lieu
thereof. In the case of a spayed or neutered dog, every application
shall also be accompanied by a certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian
showing that the dog has been spayed or neutered, provided such certificate
shall not be required if the same is already on file with the clerk.
(5)Â
(6)Â
Upon validation by the clerk, the application shall become a license
for the dog described therein. Once an application has been validated,
no refund shall be made.
(7)Â
The clerk shall provide a copy of the license to the owner and retain
a record of the license in either paper or electronic format.
(8)Â
No license shall be transferable. Upon the transfer of ownership
of any dog, the new owner shall immediately make application for a
license for such dog.
(9)Â
No dog can be adopted out of the Town's animal shelter without
first obtaining a license from the clerk.
B.Â
Purebred licenses. There will not be distinct purebred licenses as
previously provided for by the state. Any and all existing purebred
licenses will now be required to comply with § 42-2A of
this chapter.
C.Â
Rabies vaccination. The clerk, at the time of issuing any license
pursuant to this article, shall require the applicant to present a
statement certified by a licensed veterinarian showing that the dog
or dogs have been vaccinated to prevent rabies or, in lieu thereof,
a statement certified by a licensed veterinarian stating that because
of age or other reason, the life of the dog or dogs would be endangered
by the administration of the vaccine. The clerk shall make or cause
to be made from such statement a record of such information and file
such record with a copy of the license.
D.Â
Enumeration. In addition to other applicable fees, any person applying
for a dog license for a dog identified as unlicensed during an enumeration
shall pay a fee of $5. Such additional fee shall be used to pay the
expenses incurred by the Town in conducting the enumeration. In the
event the additional fees collected exceed the expenses incurred by
the Town in conducting an enumeration in any year, such excess fees
may be used by the Town for any other lawful purpose.
E.Â
Renewals.
For owners who fail to renew a dog license, the Town Clerk shall mail
a late renewal fee invoice and warning the failure to renew the license
within the requisite time frame has resulted in the issuance of a
late penalty. The penalty for failure to renew a dog license which
has expired shall be $5. This late renewal penalty of $5 shall be
in addition to the base fee for any such license renewal.
[Added 1-9-2019 by L.L.
No. 1-2019]
A.Â
Each dog licensed shall be assigned, at the time the dog is licensed
for the first time, a permanent official identification number. Such
identification number shall be carried by the dog on an identification
tag which shall be affixed to a collar on the dog at all times.
B.Â
The official identification number shall constitute the official
identification of the dog to which it is assigned, regardless of changes
of ownership, and the number shall not be reassigned to any other
dog during the lifetime of the dog to which it is assigned.
C.Â
At the time a dog is first licensed, one identification tag shall
be furnished to the owner at no charge. Any replacement tag shall
be obtained by the owner at his expense at a fee of $3.
D.Â
No tag carrying an official identification number shall be affixed
to the collar of any dog other than the one to which that number has
been assigned.
E.Â
The identification tag shall be imprinted with the "Town of Chester,"
a unique identification number, and the telephone number of the Town
Clerk's office.
A.Â
In the event of a change in ownership of any dog which has been assigned
an official identification number or in the address of the owner of
record of any such dog, the owner of record shall, within 10 days
of such change, notify the Clerk.
B.Â
If any dog which has been assigned an official identification number
is lost or stolen, the owner of record shall, within 10 days of the
discovery of such loss or theft, notify the Clerk.
C.Â
In the case of a dog's death, the owner of record shall so notify
the Clerk either prior to renewal of license or upon the time of such
renewal.
