[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lake George as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Domestic animals in Shepard Memorial Park — See Ch. 148, Art. I.
Domestic animals in Gage Brook Recreation Center and Park — See Ch. 148, Art. II.
[Adopted 11-17-2008 by L.L. No. 13-2008]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Art. I, Animals at Large, adopted 5-19-1930 by Ord. No. 12, was repealed 8-21-2006 by L.L. No. 7-2006.
The breeding, feeding or pasturing of livestock farming animals within the limits of the Village of Lake George is hereby prohibited.
[Adopted 2-4-1980 by L.L. No. 1-1980]
The purpose of this article shall be to preserve public peace and good order in the Village of Lake George and to promote the public health, safety and welfare of its people by enforcing regulations and restrictions on the activities of dogs that are consistent with the rights and privileges of dog owners and the rights and privileges of other citizens of the Village of Lake George.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AT LARGE
An unleashed dog off the premises of the owner.
CURB
When used as a verb, means to lead a dog into that portion of the street between the curblines so that it can excrete waste matter.
[Added 7-18-1994 by L.L. No. 8-1994]
DOG
Both male and female dogs.
DOG CONTROL OFFICER
A person or persons appointed by the Town of Lake George for the purpose of enforcing this article on or after January 1, 1980.
[Amended 5-16-2005 by L.L. No. 9-2005]
LEASHED
Restrained by a leash, attached to a collar or harness of sufficient strength to restrain the dog and which shall be held by a person having the ability to control the dog.
OWNER
Includes any person who keeps, harbors or has control of a dog. Dogs owned by minors shall be deemed to be in the custody and control of the parents or other head of the household where a minor resides. Any person harboring a dog or having right of property in such dog and any person who has such dog in his keeping shall be deemed to be the "owner" of the dog for the purpose of enforcing this article.
[Amended 7-18-1994 by L.L. No. 8-1994]
It shall be unlawful for any owner of a dog in the Village of Lake George to permit or allow such dog:
A. 
To run at large unless the dog is restrained by an adequate leash or unless it is accompanied by its owner or a responsible person and under the full control of such owner or person. For the purpose of this article, a dog or dogs hunting in the company of a hunter or hunters shall be considered as accompanied by its owner.
B. 
To engage in habitual loud howling, barking or whining or to conduct itself in such manner as to habitually annoy any person other than the owner or harborer of the dog.
C. 
To cause damage or destruction to public or private property, or to cause, suffer or allow such dog to soil, defile, defecate on or otherwise commit any nuisance on any common thoroughfare, sidewalk, passageway, bypath, play area, park or any place where people congregate or walk or upon any private property without the permission of the owner of said property. This restriction shall not apply to that portion of the street lying between the curblines, which shall be used to curb such dog under the following conditions:
[Amended 7-18-1994 by L.L. No. 8-1994]
(1) 
The person who so curbs such dog shall immediately remove all feces deposited by such dog.
(2) 
The feces removed from the aforementioned designated area shall be disposed of by the person owning, harboring, keeping or in charge of any dog curbed by flushing the same down a sanitary sewer system or by use of a chemical container causing disintegration. In the event that a chemical container is used, ultimate disposal must be made in accordance with Department of Environmental Resources regulations concerning solid waste disposal.
D. 
To bite, chase, jump upon or otherwise harass any person in such manner as to cause intimidation or to put such person in reasonable apprehension of bodily harm or injury.
E. 
To chase, leap on or otherwise harass bicycles or motor vehicles.
F. 
To kill or injure any dog, cat or other household pet.
G. 
To be unlicensed when six months of age or older.
H. 
To not have a current and valid New York State identification tag on its collar while at large, whether or not restrained by an adequate leash.
All female dogs shall be confined to the premises of their owner while such are in season (heat) and may not be left outside unattended. Any owner not adhering to this rule will be subject to having the dog seized by the Dog Control Officer and removed to a safe place of confinement.
All premises occupied or used by dogs shall be kept in a clean, sanitary condition. Failure to provide adequate food, water or space shall subject dogs to seizure and confinement. "Adequate" shall mean sufficient for the age, size and number of dogs on the premises. Upon conviction of the owner or harborer, the dogs shall become the property of the Village of Lake George or be released to an authorized humane society, veterinarian or kennel for adoption or euthanasia.
Upon taking custody of any animal, the Dog Control Officer shall make a record of the matter. The record shall include the date of pickup, breed, general description, sex, identification numbers, time of pickup, location of release and the name and address of the owner, if any.
A. 
If a dog seized is not wearing an identification tag (license tag), it shall be held for a period of no less than three days.
B. 
If a dog seized is wearing an identification number, the owner shall be promptly notified either in person or by certified mail. If the owner is notified in person, the dog shall be held for a period of no less than seven days; if notified by mail, no less than nine days.
C. 
The owner of the dog shall be responsible for any impoundment fee established by the Village of Lake George as follows:
[Amended 5-2-1983 by L.L. No. 5-1983; 3-21-1994 by L.L. No. 3-1994]
(1) 
Fifteen dollars, plus $10 for each day after the first day of the first impoundment.
(2) 
Twenty dollars, plus $10 for each day after the first day of the second impoundment.
(3) 
Thirty dollars, plus $10 for each day after the first day of the third impoundment.
D. 
If not redeemed, the owner shall forfeit all title to the dog, and it shall be released to an authorized humane society or kennel to be adopted or euthanized, in which event all costs thereof shall be paid by the owner of the dog.
[Amended 3-21-1994 by L.L. No. 3-1994; 2-8-1999 by L.L. No. 1-1999]
E. 
All dogs seized and impounded shall be vaccinated for bordatella, canine distemper and parvo viruses at a cost not to exceed $30, and the owner of the dog shall pay all such costs.
[Added 2-8-1999 by L.L. No. 1-1999]
Any person who observes a dog in violation of any section of this article may file a signed complaint, under oath, with the Police Justice or with the authorized Dog Control Officer or any peace officer, specifying the violation, the date of violation and the damage caused, including the place(s) the violation occurred and the name and address of the dog owner, if known.
[Amended 5-16-2005 by L.L. No. 9-2005]
The Dog Control Officer of the Town of Lake George shall, and all peace officers may, administer and enforce the provisions of this article and for this purpose shall have the authority to issue appearance tickets and to seize dogs either on or off the owner's premises, if witnessed to be in violation of this article.
[Amended 7-18-1994 by L.L. No. 8-1994]
A violation of this article shall constitute a violation as defined in the Penal Law of the State of New York. Any person who violates or who fails or refuses to comply with this article shall be liable to pay a fine of $250 for the first offense and $500 for the second offense or be sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not more than 15 days, or both, upon conviction before any court of competent jurisdiction.
No person shall hinder, resist or oppose the Dog Control Officer or peace officer authorized to administer or enforce the provisions of this article in the performance of the Officer's duties under this article.
The owner or harborer of any dog so destroyed under the provisions of this article, whether destroyed by the Dog Control Officer or a peace officer or released to an authorized humane society or veterinarian, shall not be entitled to any compensation, and no action shall be maintainable thereafter to recover the value of such dog or any other type of damage.