Parks and public areas — See Ch. 125.
ARTICLE IDogs (§ 74-1 — § 74-5)
§ 74-1Applicability; definitions.
§ 74-2Restraint of dogs.
§ 74-3Dog sanitation.
§ 74-4Penalties for offenses.
§ 74-5Enforcement.
An owner shall restrain his dog at all times by a leash, rope, chain, cage or motor vehicle while the dog is off the premises owned or occupied by such person, whether or not the dog is tagged or licensed.
Any dog not so restrained found off the owner's premises shall be seized, held and dealt with in accordance with the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York.
An owner shall immediately remove any feces left by his dog on any public property or left by his dog on any private property without authorization. Such feces shall be removed and disposed of by a sanitary method.
An owner shall not permit feces left by his dog to accumulate unreasonably on any property in such a way as to create a nuisance or cause annoyance to the residents of the village.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of law relating to the seizure of dogs, a violation of this Article shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $25 for the first violation, not more than $50 for the second violation and not more than $100 for the third and every subsequent violation.
In addition to any other method of enforcement, an appearance ticket may be issued pursuant to the Criminal Procedure Law for any violation thereof, and an answer to such appearance ticket may be made by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, within five days of the violation as provided in Subsections B and C of this section in lieu of personal appearance on the return date at the time and court specified in said appearance ticket.
If a person charged with the violation admits to the violation as charged in the appearance ticket, he may complete an appropriate form authorized by this Article, entering a plea of guilty thereby, and forward such form and appearance ticket to the office specified on such appearance ticket. A check or money order in the amount of the penalty for the violation charged, in accordance with the penalty schedule appearing on the answer form, must also be submitted with such answer.
If the person charged with the violation denies part or all of the violation as charged in the appearance ticket, he may complete an appropriate form likewise prescribed for that purpose, entering a plea of not guilty thereby, and forward such form and appearance ticket, together with security in the amount of $15 to the office specified on such appearance ticket. Upon receipt, such answer shall be entered and new return date established. Such persons shall be notified by return mail of the date and place of such return date, and the security shall be returned upon appearance thereat. If a person shall fail to appear at a return date, when such is provided for pursuant to this section, the security posted to secure such appearance shall be forfeited and a summons or a warrant of arrest may be issued pursuant to the Criminal Procedure Law.
The form for answer by plea of guilty or not guilty shall include a statement setting forth in substance the provisions of this § 75-5 of this Article and the schedule of penalties that can be imposed if a plea of guilty is entered. The form shall be approved as to form and content by the Board of Trustees.
