[Added 8-19-1985; amended 11-24-2003 by Ord. No. 43.112.03]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
An appointee of the Mayor and/or employee of the Department of Public Safety, who shall enforce the provisions of this Chapter and serve as a Dog Control Officer pursuant to Article 27 of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law.
CLERK
The City Clerk of the City of Albany, who shall serve as Dog Warden, validate or issue licenses pursuant to this article, and work in concert with the Department of Public Safety to administer provisions of Chapter 115.
DIVISION OF ANIMAL CONTROL
A division of the Department of Public Safety.
DOG
Any member of the species Canis familiaris.
HARBOR
One who provides food or shelter to any dog.
OWNER
Any person having a right of property in a dog and any person who keeps or harbors a dog, or has it in his/her care or who acts as its custodian, and any person who permits a dog to remain on or about any premises occupied by said person.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, partnership, association or other organized group of persons, municipalities or other legal entity.
PUBLIC SAFETY
The Department of Public Safety of the City of Albany, which shall manage the animal control program and work in concert with the City Clerk to administer the provisions of Chapter 115.
The Mayor shall designate the City Clerk to be the Dog Warden of the City of Albany and shall appoint Animal Control Officers to enforce the provisions of this chapter. Animal Control Officers shall also serve as Dog Control Officers pursuant to Chapter 7 of Agriculture and Markets Law. The Department of Public Safety shall supervise and administer the animal control program and the enforcement of applicable provisions and laws.
The duties of the Animal Control Officer/Dog Control Officer shall be as follows:
A. 
Enforcement of the provisions of the article governing the running of dogs at large.[1]
[1]
Editor’s Note: See Art. I of this chapter.
B. 
Enforcement of the provisions of this chapter and other ordinances of the City and laws of the state governing the licensing of dogs by their owners.
C. 
Investigate and prioritize dog-related complaints from City residents.
D. 
Investigate allegations of cruelty to dogs.
E. 
Investigate reports where humans or animals have been bitten by a dog.
F. 
Capture and impound dogs running at large.
G. 
Routing dog license checks.
H. 
Patrol the City as directed.
I. 
Issue summonses and warning tickets for dog control and canine waste violations.
J. 
Collection and disposal of dead dogs.
K. 
Preparation of reports documenting incidents and investigations of any of the above.
L. 
Enforce all other provisions of the City Code relating to animals.
Hurt, stray or unaccompanied dogs picked up by an Animal Control Officer will be properly transported to the appropriate location: contracted shelter, a veterinary hospital, or the owner of the dog.
All dogs shall be humanely cared for by an Animal Control Officer until they can be reunited with their owner or transported to the appropriate facility.
The Division of Animal Control shall use sound discretion to establish the order of priority for responding to complaints from citizens about dog-related cases.
This article shall supersede any and all the provisions of ordinances, rules or regulations previously enacted or promulgated which are inconsistent with the provisions of this article.
If any provision of this article or its application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of the provisions of this article or Chapter 115 and the application thereof to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby.