[Adopted 12-13-2010 by L.L. No. 2-2010]
The purpose of this article is to provide for the licensing and identification of dogs, the control and protection of the dog population, and the protection of persons, property, domestic animals and deer from dog attack and damage.
This article is enacted pursuant to the provisions of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York.
The definitions set forth in Section 108 of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York are incorporated herein by reference.
A. 
All dogs within the Town of Dickinson four months of age or older, unless otherwise exempted, shall be licensed. The owner of each dog required to be licensed shall obtain, complete and return to the Town Clerk a dog license application together with the license application fee, any applicable license surcharges and such additional fees as may be established by the Town of Dickinson. Each license application shall be accompanied by proof that the dog has been vaccinated against rabies or a statement from a licensed veterinarian that such vaccination would endanger the dog's life in which case vaccination shall not be required. Each license issued shall be valid for a period of one year and shall not be transferable.
B. 
In the event of a change in the ownership of any dog which has been licensed pursuant to this article, the owner of 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 article until such filing is made or until the dog is licensed in the name of the new owner.
C. 
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 article committed after such report is filed.
D. 
In the case of a dog's death, the owner of record shall so notify the Town Clerk either prior to renewal of license or upon the time of such renewal as set forth by the Town Clerk.
E. 
When there is a change of address for the owner of record, the owner shall notify the Town Clerk of such change. If the change is still within the Town of Dickinson, the Town Clerk will make the appropriate updates to the dog license record. If the change is located outside the Town of Dickinson, the Town Clerk shall make a note in the record and cancel the license. The Town Clerk shall forward a copy of the license to the Clerk of the municipality to which the owner has moved, informing said Clerk that the dog now resides in their municipality. If the Town of Dickinson Clerk is notified by another municipality in Broome County that one of their licensed dogs has moved into the Town of Dickinson, the Town Clerk will issue a Town of Dickinson license at no charge for the remainder of the license year upon presentation by the owner of the old license.
A. 
License fee. The Town of Dickinson hereby establishes the fee for a dog license issued pursuant to this article at $15 to which amount shall be added $10 if the dog for which the license application is made is unspayed or unneutered. However, excepted from payment of the license fee are applications submitted for a dog license for any guide, hearing, service, war, working search, detection, police and therapy dogs.
B. 
Statutory license surcharge. In addition to the license fee established by § 229-13A of this article, each applicant for a dog license shall pay a surcharge of $1 if the dog to be licensed is altered, or a surcharge of $3 if the dog sought to be licensed is unaltered.
C. 
Municipal license surcharge for enumeration. When the Town Board determines the need for a dog enumeration, a fee of $5 will be assessed to all dogs found unlicensed or renewed at the time enumeration is conducted.
D. 
Late fee. The Town of Dickinson shall charge a late fee of $10 for any license renewed 15 days or more after the date of expiration.
[Amended 6-11-2018 by L.L. No. 2-2018; 9-10-2018 by L.L. No. 3-2018]
E. 
Replacement tags. Replacement identification tags will be issued by the Town Clerk for a fee of $5 per request.
The owner of any dog impounded by the Town of Dickinson shall be entitled to redeem that dog within five business days from the day the dog is impounded, excluding the day the dog is impounded, provided that the owner produces proof that the dog is licensed and identified and the owner pays a fee of $10 for the first impoundment; a fee of $25 for the second impoundment plus a fee of $3 for each additional twenty-four hour period; a fee of $50 for a third and each subsequent impoundment plus a fee of $3 for each additional twenty-four-hour period.
In addition to the actions set forth in Subdivisions 2(a) and (b) of § 118 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, an action or proceeding may be instituted in the name of the Town of Dickinson in a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent, restrain, enjoin, correct, or abate any violation of, or to enforce any provision of, this article. No action or proceeding described in this section shall be commenced without the appropriate authorization from the Town Board of the Town of Dickinson.
This article shall take effect on January 1, 2011.