The Village Board of Trustees finds that rabies
is a highly virulent and almost uniformly fatal disease for which
there is no known cure other than prevention. The disease is endemic
to the wild mammal population from which it can be readily transmitted
to domestic cats and dogs with consequent hazards of exposure to this
disease to persons in this Village. To protect such persons, the Board
of Trustees has enacted this article.
As used and intended in this article and for
the purposes hereof, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following
terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
A Dog Control Officer as defined in § 114 of the
New York State Agriculture and Markets Law who is responsible for
enforcing Village laws enacted concerning dogs and other animals.
CAT
Includes both male and female cats.
CONFINED
That such animal is securely confined or restrained and kept
on the owner's premises either within a building, kennel or other
suitable enclosure or securely fastened on a chain, wire or other
effective tether of such length and so arranged that the animal cannot
reach or endanger any person or any adjacent premises or on any public
street, way or place or, if the animal is being transported by the
owner, that it is securely confined in a crate or other container
or so restrained in a vehicle that it cannot escape therefrom.
DOG
Includes both male and female dogs.
OWNER
Includes any person or persons, firm, association or corporation
who or which at any time owns or has custody and control of or harbors
or is otherwise responsible for any cat or dog which is kept, brought
or comes within the corporate limits of this city.
No owner of a cat or dog shall keep or possess
a dog or cat within the geographic limits of this Village unless such
animal has been vaccinated for rabies.
Every owner of a dog or cat shall immediately
report to the Animal Control Officer every case where a person has
been bitten by a dog or cat.
[Amended 6-9-1997 by L.L. No. 3-1997]
A. Every owner of a dog or cat, after a report pursuant to §
81-10 has been reviewed, must produce for the Animal Control Officer a current record of rabies vaccination. Failure to produce the same will result in impoundment of the animal at the Saratoga County Animal Shelter at the owner's sole cost and expense pending the pursuit, if any, of a proceeding under § 121 of the Agriculture and Markets Law and the directives of the Animal Control Officer pursuant to §
81-12 of this Code.
B. Should the owner be able to produce a proof of current
vaccination, then the animal shall be confined for a period of time
as directed by the Health Officer and/or Animal Control Officer. Failure
to comply shall be a violation of the provisions of this article.
C. Every owner failing to confine a dog or cat after
being directed to do so by the Health Officer and/or Animal Control
Officer shall be guilty of violating the provisions of this article.
Every dog or cat having rabies or suspected
of being infected with rabies shall be reported immediately to the
Animal Control Officer or Health Officer, and the owner shall promptly
comply with any and all directions the Health Officer and/or the Animal
Control Officer shall give with reference to the observation of such
animal or the continued confinement, immunization or other disposition
to be made of such animal under the provisions of Section 2.14 of
Part 2 of the Sanitary Code, or otherwise.
The Police Department is hereby authorized and
directed to enforce strictly all the provisions, rules and regulations
of this article or any emergency orders issued by the Health Officer
and/or Animal Control Officer.
Every person violating the provisions of this
article shall, upon conviction, be guilty of an offense punishable
by a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $100.