[Adopted as Ch. 15 of the 1969 Code]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
A dog trained professionally to attack a human being attempting to enter a specific property area.
No person shall provide or operate a business of providing sentry guard dogs for protection of property within the Town of DeWitt without first securing a license from the Town Clerk of the Town of DeWitt upon written application therefor.
[Amended 2-15-1991 by L.L. No. 1-1991]
The license fee under this article shall be $25 per year, and the license shall expire on December 31 of the year in which issued.
Every home, business establishment or other enclosed location or property within the Town of DeWitt which shall use the services of a sentry guard dog shall be required to display in a prominent place on the front and rear of the building a sign of a type which has been approved by the Chief of Police indicating that a sentry dog is stationed therein. Where the sentry dog is located outside a structure in a fenced-in enclosure, signs of a type which has been approved by the Chief of Police indicating that a sentry dog is stationed therein shall be prominently affixed to all gates and entryways to such enclosure, and, in addition thereto, such signs shall be affixed to the fence around its entire perimeter, not more than 30 feet apart between any two such signs. Where the use of a sentry dog has been discontinued on a permanent basis therein, it shall be the duty of the licensee who furnished the dog or the owner of the property to remove the sign. It shall be a violation of this article by the owner, lessee or party in control of the premises to post or leave posted a sign indicating the presence of a sentry dog where the services of such dog are not used.
A.
Each licensee shall be required to notify the Departments of Police and Fire of the location of each of his guard dogs throughout the Town of DeWitt, specifying the time and place each dog is to be used, along with a phone number of a capable trainer who may remove the dog in the event of fire or other emergency.
B.
It shall be the duty of a person who uses the services of a sentry guard dog which is not under the control of a licensee, as that term is used in this chapter, to notify the Departments of Police and Fire of the location within the Town of each sentry guard dog under its control, specifying the time and place that each dog is to be used, along with a phone number of a capable trainer who is able to remove the dog in the event of fire or other emergency.
C.
The Departments of Police and Fire, wherever practicable under the circumstances then and there existing, shall attempt to contact the owner or trainer of a sentry guard dog before entering a building which the Departments of Police and Fire are required to enter in the performance of their duties. The purpose of contacting such owner or trainer is to provide said owner with an opportunity to remove the guard dog from the premises. In the event that the owner or a competent trainer is not present, the Department of Police or Fire may take such action as it deems appropriate to protect its members and to enable the Department to perform its duties under the law.
[Amended 2-15-1991 by L.L. No. 1-1991]
Any violation of this article shall be an offense punishable upon conviction by a fine not to exceed $250 or imprisonment for not to exceed 15 days, or both.