The purpose of this article is to protect the health, safety
and well-being of persons and property by imposing licensing requirements
on the keeping and owning of dogs within the Town.
This article is enacted pursuant to the provisions of Article 7, Chapter
59, Part T, of the Agriculture and Markets Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York.
The title of this article shall be "Dog Licensing Law of the
Town of Barre."
As used in this article, the following words shall have the
following respective meanings:
DOG
Male and female, licensed and unlicensed members of the species
Canis familiars.
OWNER
A 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 dog 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
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 in and deemed to be the owner. If said owner
of any dog found to be in violation of this chapter 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.
Any person convicted of a violation of this article shall be
liable for a civil penalty of $25 for a first violation; of $50 for
a second violation; and $75 for each subsequent violation.