A person who carries or causes to be carried in or upon any
vehicle or otherwise any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner or so
as to produce torture is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment
for not more than one year or by a fine of not more than $500, or
by both.
A person who owns, keeps or controls an animal who abandons
such animal or leaves it to die in a street, road or public place
or who allows such animal, if it becomes disabled, to lie in a public
street, road or public place more than three hours after he receives
notice that it is left disabled is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable
by imprisonment for not more than one year or by a fine of not more
than $500, or both.
[Amended 9-3-2019]
A.
No person who owns, keeps or controls any animal shall fail to provide
proper food, water or shelter for said animal, taking into account
the existing weather conditions, whether current or anticipated. "Food"
shall mean food necessary to maintain the good health of the animal.
"Water" shall mean water which is clean, in sufficient quality to
sustain the animal, and not frozen. "Shelter" shall mean not only
the place where the animal may get out of the weather, to include
temperature, but also shall include an adequate size area for exercise,
taking into account the size and activity of the animal.
B.
No person shall fail to provide urgent veterinary care to any animal
that he or she owns, keeps or controls.
C.
Any police officer or animal control officer in the City of Saratoga
Springs is authorized to assess the condition of any animal to determine
whether, based upon that officer's reasonable information and
belief, the owner of said animal has provided it with proper urgent
veterinary care, and whether he or she has complied with the other
provisions in this section.
D.
Upon a determination by a police officer or animal control officer
that an owner has not provided an animal with proper urgent veterinary
care, the officer may issue to the owner a notice of violation under
this section that specifies a time by which the owner must provide
such urgent veterinary care. Such notice of violation may be issued
in addition to and not in limitation of any other notice or notices
of violation issued under this chapter. Any owner receiving such a
notice stating a specified time to provide urgent veterinary care
shall, within the time so specified, file with the Department of Public
Safety a written confirmation signed by a veterinarian that such urgent
veterinary care has been provided. Failure to file such written confirmation
shall constitute a separate violation of this chapter.
E.
Penalties.
(1)
A person who violates Subsection A of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 for each offense.
(2)
A person who violates any other subsection of this section shall,
upon conviction, be punishable by a fine not to exceed $250 for each
offense.
