This article is enacted pursuant to the provisions of Article 7, as amended by Chapter 59 Part T of the Laws of 2010, of the Agriculture and Markets Law and of the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York.
Licensing of dogs.
A. 
All dogs in the Town of Lenox must be licensed with the Town Clerk by the age of four months and are required to present a current certificate of rabies at the time of licensing or the renewal of an existing license.
B. 
All dog licenses will be for a period of one year and will expire at the end of the month one year from the date of issue.
C. 
Fees for licensing of dogs.
(1) 
Fee for a spayed/neutered dog: $9 plus $1 New York State surcharge equals $10.
(2) 
Fee for an unspayed/unneutered dog: $14 plus $3 New York State surcharge equals $17.
(New York State surcharge is an assessment surcharge for the purpose of carrying out animal population control.)
(3) 
Such fees shall be reviewed by the Town Board periodically and may be changed by a resolution of the Town Board if deemed necessary.
D. 
Enumeration fee. When the Town Board determines the need for a dog enumeration, a fee of $5 will be assessed to all dogs found unlicensed or unrenewed at the time the enumeration is conducted.
E. 
Purebred license. The Town of Lenox will not be issuing purebred or kennel licenses. All dogs will be licensed individually as per the fee system stated above.
F. 
Service dogs. The Town of Lenox will not require a license for any guide dog, service dog, hearing dog or detection dog.
G. 
The Town of Lenox does not allow the licensing of dogs by a shelter. The shelter must send the adoptive dog owners to the town clerk of the town or city in which the dog will be harbored for licensing or to the Town Clerk of the Town of Lenox where the shelter is located for the purchase of the license for adoption purposes.
H. 
All dog licenses may be purchased by visiting the Town offices or by regular mail. If licensing or renewing a license by mail, the appropriate fee must accompany the forms. There will be no refund of fees.
I. 
Impoundment fees for seizure of dogs. The impoundment fee for seizure and impoundment of dogs in violation of this law or the laws of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Law are as follows. First offense: The same impoundment and euthanasia fees per animal that are charged to the Town for such service; second offense: $60 plus the impoundment and euthanasia fees per animal. (Also see alternative penalty in § 38-2.)
J. 
The cost for a replacement or duplicate tag will be $3.
The dog license fees collected will be distributed to the state, county and Town governments as provided for by law. The Town's portion of the dog license fees shall be used in accordance with Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law and shall be used for dog-control-related purposes, including but not limited to:
A. 
License administration costs.
B. 
Dog local law enforcement.
C. 
Dog Control Officer salary, supplies and expenses.
D. 
Spaying and neutering clinics.
E. 
Dog enumeration and surveys.
F. 
Dog control equipment.
G. 
Humane and dog control education.
H. 
Dog shelter or dog pound expenses.
Prior to the issuance of any dog license, proof of spaying or neutering, where applicable, shall be required and provided to the license-issuing clerk.