[Added 9-13-1994 by L.L. No. 8-1994; amended 4-7-1998 by L.L. No. 12-1998; 4-16-2002 by L.L. No. 11-2002; 4-24-2007 by L.L. No. 12-2007; 11-5-2008 by L.L. No. 32-2008; 12-14-2010 by L.L. No. 30-2010]
[Amended 8-12-2016 by L.L. No. 36-2016]
A. 
The Animal Control Officer of the Town of Huntington, in addition to the powers granted to him by law, may, upon application of a resident of the Town of Huntington and surrender to the dog shelter, accept any cat owned by such resident for immediate euthanasia, at the discretion of the Animal Control Officer.
B. 
Fees.
(1) 
A resident of the Town of Huntington who surrenders a cat to the Animal Control Officer for euthanasia shall pay a fee of fifty ($50.) dollars.
(2) 
A qualified resident senior citizen of the Town of Huntington shall receive a discount of five ($5.) dollars when he or she surrenders a cat to the Animal Control Officer or other duly designated person for euthanasia.
(3) 
In the case of surrender of a cat for euthanasia, there shall be a cremation fee of twenty-five ($25.) dollars.
(4) 
In the case of surrender of a cat for purposes of cremation only, there shall be a cremation fee of twenty-five ($25.) dollars.
(A) 
Any person owning, possessing or harboring a cat four (4) months of age or over in the Town of Huntington shall be required to have the cat vaccinated to prevent the spread of rabies, except that a rabies vaccine is not required as follows:
(1) 
To a cat brought into the Town for a period not to exceed fifteen (15) days; cats in the custody of an incorporated society devoted to the care of lost, stray or homeless animals; cats confined to public or private hospitals devoted to the treatment of sick animals; and cats confined to educational or research institutions for the purpose of research.
(2) 
To a cat whose health would be adversely affected by a rabies vaccination, provided that a written statement, certified by a duly licensed veterinarian, specifying such condition is presented to the Animal Control Officer or the Town Clerk.
(B) 
Any person owning; possessing or harboring a cat who fails or refuses to submit the cat for vaccination within ten (10) days after a request by an Animal Control Officer, peace officer, police officer or health officer shall be in violation of this chapter.
No liability shall be imposed upon the Animal Control Officer of the Town of Huntington or upon the Town of Huntington or any employee of the Town of Huntington for destruction or adoption of any animal or animals pursuant to the provisions of Town Law or this article.
[Amended 8-12-2016 by L.L. No. 36-2016; 11-6-2019 by L.L. No. 56-2019]
(A) 
Except as provided otherwise in this section, any person found guilty of an offense against any provision of this article shall be subject to a fine of not less than one hundred ($100.) dollars nor more than five hundred ($500.) dollars for the first offense, not less than two hundred and fifty ($250.) dollars nor more than one thousand ($1,000) dollars for the second offense committed within five (5) years of the first offense, and not less than seven hundred and fifty ($750.) dollars nor more than two thousand five hundred ($2,500.) dollars for the third or subsequent offense committed within five (5) years of the first offense.
[Amended 9-14-2021 by L.L. No. 50-2021]
(B) 
Any person found guilty of an offense against the rabies vaccination requirements hereinabove shall be subject to a fine of not less than one hundred ($100.) dollars nor more than two hundred fifty ($250.) dollars. In the event that the subject cat is reported to have bitten a person or another domestic warm-blooded animal, said person shall be subject to an additional fine or penalty of not more than five hundred ($500) dollars.
(C) 
Any person found by the Bureau of Administrative Adjudication to have violated this article shall likewise be subject to a monetary penalty in an amount within the range of fines authorized in subdivisions A and B for the respective violations referenced therein for a first offense and subsequent offenses.
(D) 
In addition to the criminal and civil penalties set forth herein or in other applicable law, rule or regulation, the Town Attorney is authorized to pursue civil and equitable relief in the name of the Town in a court of competent jurisdiction, including but not limited to compensatory actions; civil penalties in the amount of up to five hundred ($500.) dollars per day, or part thereof; an action to compel compliance with or to restrain by injunction the violation of this article; and other remedies which in the opinion of the Town Attorney may seem necessary and proper. Any civil monetary penalty awarded may be added to the tax bill of the property where the violation has occurred and shall be collected in the same manner.