[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson 1-11-1982 by L.L. No. 1-1982. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 11-15-2010 by L.L. No. 5-2010]
The Village of Croton-on-Hudson finds that the running-at-large and other uncontrolled behavior of dogs has caused physical harm to domestic animals and persons and damage to property, and has created nuisances within the Village. The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the licensing and identification of dogs, to control and protect the dog population, and to protect the health, safety and well-being of persons, property, and other animals by imposing restrictions and regulations upon the keeping[1] or running-at-large of dogs and the seizure thereof within the Village.
[1]
Editor's Note: For provisions concerning the keeping of dogs and other animals, see Ch. 230, Zoning.
[Amended 11-15-2010 by L.L. No. 5-2010]
This chapter is enacted pursuant to the provisions of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law.
[Amended 11-15-2010 by L.L. No. 5-2010]
The title of this chapter shall be the "Dog Licensing and Control Law of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson."
[Amended 11-15-2010 by L.L. No. 5-2010]
As used in this chapter, all terms shall have the same meanings as set forth in Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law, except that following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AT LARGE
Any dog that is unleashed and on property open to the public or that is on private property not owned or leased by the owner of the dog, unless permission for such presence has been obtained. No dog shall be deemed to be “at large” if it is a police work dog in use for police work or accompanied by its owner or other responsible person and is actively engaged in hunting or training for hunting on unposted land or on posted land with the permission of the owner of the land.
HARBOR
To provide food or shelter to any dog.
OWNER
Any person who harbors or keeps any dog. In the event that any dog is owned by a person under 18 years of age, the “owner” shall be deemed to be the parent or guardian of such person or the head of the household in which said person resides.
[Amended 5-7-1990 by L.L. No. 2-1990; 10-7-2003 by L.L. No. 3-2003; 11-15-2010 by L.L. No. 5-2010]
A. 
License required. Any dog harbored within the Village that is four months of age or older shall be licensed, unless otherwise exempted under state law or this chapter.
(1) 
Exemption from identification and license. Any dog harbored within the Village and owned either by a resident of any city having a population of over two million or by a nonresident of this state is exempt from the identification and licensing provisions of this chapter for a period of 30 days, provided such dog is licensed pursuant to the provisions of law of the area of residence.
B. 
Application and fees. Application for a dog license shall be made by the dog owner to the Village Clerk and shall be accompanied by the license application fee, any applicable license surcharges and such additional fees or surcharges as may be established by resolution of the Board of Trustees from time to time. The application shall include all information and certificates required under Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law, and shall also include information required pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Village Manager.
(1) 
Exemption from license fees. Exempt from the license fee are applications submitted for a dog license for any guide, hearing, service, war, working search, detection, police or therapy dog.
C. 
Validity of license; transferability. Each dog license issued hereunder shall be valid for a period of one year; provided, however, that no license shall be issued for a period expiring after the last day of the eleventh month following the expiration date of the current rabies certificate for the dog being licensed.
D. 
Exemption from carrying identification tag. A dog participating in a dog show shall be exempt from the identification requirement of § 111 of the Agriculture and Markets Law during such participation.
E. 
Special tags. The Village shall issue a special tag for identifying any guide dog, service dog, hearing dog or detection dog. Such special tag shall be in addition to the identification tag required under Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law.
F. 
Violations. In addition to the violations set forth in Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law, any noncompliance with any provision of this § 108-5 shall be a violation punishable as provided in § 118 of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law.
It shall be unlawful for any owner of any dog to permit or allow such dog, in the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, to:
A. 
Be at large.
B. 
Engage in loud howling, barking, crying or whining or to conduct itself in such a manner so as to unreasonably annoy any person.
[Amended 6-7-1982 by L.L. No. 4-1982]
C. 
Soil, cause damage to or commit any nuisance on any commonfare or any place where the public congregates or walks or on the premises of a person other than the owner of such dog, except that one walking or exercising such dog shall be permitted to curb such dog in that portion of the street lying between the curblines. It shall be the duty of any person who so curbs a dog to immediately remove all feces left by such dog, depositing the same directly into an airtight container, which shall then be deposited into a container used for the disposal of refuse. This provision shall not be applicable to a blind person while actually using a guide dog licensed as such pursuant to the Agriculture and Markets Law. In no event shall any feces be deposited in sewers or drains, whether storm or sanitary.
[Amended 11-6-1995 by L.L. No. 9-1995]
D. 
Chase or otherwise harass any person in such a manner as reasonably to cause intimidation or to put such person in reasonable apprehension of bodily harm or injury.
E. 
Habitually chase, run alongside of or bark at motor vehicles or bicycles.
F. 
Be on any public park, playground, ballfield, or school property or on the property of another person without the consent of such other person, whether or not restrained by a chain or leash; provided, however, that the following exceptions apply:
[Added 12-5-1988 by L.L. No. 10-1988; amended 12-6-2004 by L.L. No. 7-2004; 5-5-2008 by L.L. No. 1-2008; 7-21-2008 by L.L. No. 4-2008]
(1) 
Croton Landing Park: Riverwalk Trail. Dog owners may walk their leashed dogs, with a leash no more than six feet in length, only on the Riverwalk Trail within Croton Landing Park and only during posted hours that the park is open. It shall be unlawful for any owner of any dog to permit or allow such dog to be in any other areas within Croton Landing Park except as are necessary to access the Riverwalk Trail from the Croton Landing parking lot.
(2) 
Black Rock Park. Dog owners may bring their licensed restrained dogs to a designated area within Black Rock Park where dogs may be allowed access not restrained by a chain or leash subject to certain conditions outlined by the Village Recreation and Parks Department. Dog owners may also walk their leashed dogs, with a leash no more than six feet in length, in the other areas of Black Rock Park not designated as the Black Rock Park off-leash dog park area.
[Amended 11-6-2017 by L.L. No. 5-2017]
(3) 
Gouveia Park. Dog owners may walk their leashed dogs, with a leash no more than six feet in length, within Gouveia Park only during posted hours that the park is open.
[Added 4-10-2024 by L.L. No. 8-2024]
This chapter shall be enforced by any dog control officer, peace officer, when acting pursuant to his special duties, or police officer in the employ of or under contract to the Village of Croton-on-Hudson.
[Amended 11-15-2010 by L.L. No. 5-2010[1]]
A. 
Any dog found in violation of the provisions of this chapter may be seized pursuant to the provisions of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law.
B. 
The owner may redeem a seized dog by producing proof of licensing and identification pursuant to the provisions of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law and by paying the impoundment fees set forth in this chapter.
C. 
If the owner of any unredeemed dog is known, such owner shall be required to pay the impoundment fees, whether or not such owner chooses to redeem his or her dog.
D. 
Impoundment fees: The owner shall pay the following impoundment fees:
(1) 
Fifty dollars for the first impoundment of any dog owned by that person;
(2) 
One hundred dollars for the first 24 hours or part thereof and $25 for each additional 24 hours or part thereof for the second impoundment, within one year of the first impoundment, of any dog owned by that person; or
(3) 
One hundred fifty dollars for the first 24 hours or part thereof and $25 for each additional 24 hours or part thereof for the third and subsequent impoundments, within one year of the first impoundment, of any dog owned by that person.
[1]
Editor’s Note: This local law provided an effective date of January 1, 2010.
Any person who observes a dog in violation of this chapter may file a complaint, under oath, with a Justice of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, specifying the nature of the violation, the date thereof, a description of the dog and the name and residence, if known, of the owner of such dog. Such complaint may serve as the basis for enforcing the provisions of this chapter.
Any dog control officer, peace officer, when acting pursuant to his special duties, or police officer in the employ of or under contract to the Village of Croton-on-Hudson observing a violation of this chapter in his presence shall issue and serve an appearance ticket for such violation.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 4, Appearance Tickets.