ANIMAL & DOG CONTROL OFFICER

Ed Holland

Office Phone: (518) 638-8681 ext. 18
Home Phone: (518) 692-2840

41 Main Street
Municipal Building
Argyle, New York 12809

Deputy Dog Control Officer: Nancy Quell - same numbers

DOG LICENSING LAW CHANGES ANNOUNCED

LICENSING

All dogs residing in New York State MUST be licensed. Licenses are issued at the Town Clerk's Office and are renewed annually. On October 1, 1992, Washington County was declared a rabies county. Therefore, all dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated against the rabies disease. The Town Clerk cannot issue a dog license without proof of rabies vaccination.

PROCEDURE

When your dog reaches the age of three months old, or if it has been found to be running-at-large, it is time to license your dog. Running at large means "a dog off the premises of the owner and in a public place or on private lands without knowlege, consent and approval of the owner of such lands." Bring a current rabies vaccination certificate and proof of spaying or neutering of your dog to the Town Clerk's Office. If you are renewing your license, please bring in the (3) part renewal form sent to you by the NYS Agriculture and Markets, Animal Industry Division. Check to be sure your rabies information is current on the renewal form. If it is not, the clerk will require a new rabies certificate.

License fees are:

Spayed/Neutered Animals: $ 5.50
Unspayed or Unneutered Animals: $ 13.50

When licensing your dog for the first time, you will be given an identification tag for your dog to wear. The number on the tag will coincide with the license number on the paper license the clerk issues. Section 119 of the NYS Agriculture and Markets Law requires that your dog wear this tag for identificaiton purposes. Failure to do so may result in issuance of a ticket, seizure of your dog and/or fines.

LOST TAGS

If your tag becomes lost, you may order a new tag from the Town Clerk. The fee is $ 1.50 and you should receive the new tag within 6 to 8 weeks in the mail.

EXOTIC PET OWNERS

NYS Law requires the owners of exotic pets to register them with the municipal clerk in the Town or Village in which they reside. There is no fee. This registration is required to provide for the safety of fire, emergency services and police personnel should an emergency occur a your residence.

IMPOUNDMENT FEES

If your dog is picked up the impoundment fees are as follows:
1st offense : $ 30.00 pickup fee plus $ 15.00 per each additional 24 hours or part thereof.
2nd offense: $ 40.00 pickup fee plus $ 15.00 per each additional 24 hours or part thereof.
3rd offense : $ 60.00 pickup fee plus $ 15.00 per each additional 24 hours or part thereof.

Weekend and Town Holidays: An additional $ 5.00 will be added to the impoundment fee.

Should your dog need emergency medical attention, the Dog Control Officer will care for your animal and charge you any additional veterinary fees over the pickup costs and boarding fees.

MISSING PET OR ADOPTING A PET

You may call the shelter to see if your dog or cat has been brought to the shelter or if you are interested in adopting a new pet.

Adoption fee $ 30.00 plus expenses.

STRAY DOGS, CATS, FERRETS

NYS Law now defines the "owner" of a dog, cat or ferret as any person keeping, harboring or having charge or control of, or fed within such person's house, yard or premises. Should you encounter a stray animal, contact the Animal Control Officer at (518) 692-2840 to come and pickup the stray animal or you will be held responsible for the animal.

DOG BITES

If you are bitten by a dog or if your dog bites any person, you are required to report the incident to the Washington County Public Health Nurse (518) 746-2400. The biting dog must be quarantined for observation for ten (10) days a the owner's expense at an appropriate facility such as a local veterinary hospital or animal shelter. The Public Nurse from Washington County Public Health Department will also contact the bite victim to be sure the proper medical treatment has been administered.

DANGEROUS DOGS

Effective September 1, 1998, the Law defines "dangerous dog" as meaning: "any dog which: (a) without justification attacks a person and causes physical injury or death; or (b) poses a serious and unjustified imminent threat of harm to one or more persons. Should you encounter such a dog, you must contact the Washington County Public Health Nurse (518) 746-2400. The law provides that any person may make a complaint to the Animal Control Officer of a dog attack upon a person or of a dog attacking, chasing or worrying a domestic animal. Upon receiving such a complaint, the Law requires that the ACO immediately inform the complainant of his or her right to commence a dangerous dog proceeding and, if there is a reason to believe the dog is a dangerous dog, the ACO is required to commence such a proceeding himself or herself. These proceedings are heard in Town Justice Court.

RABIES

If you encounter a possible rabid animal, contact the Washington County Public Health Nurse at (518) 746-2400 to obtain instructions on handling the animal. For nuisance wildlife assistance, you may contact the Animal Control Officer at (518) 692-2840. He will remove the animal at your expense and are licensed to handle nuisance wildlife.

ATTENTION CAT AND FERRET OWNERS

NYS Law requires that all cats and domesticated ferrets be vaccinated against the rabies disease. If your cat or ferret is missing, please contact the Animal Control Officer at (518) 692-2840. If you think your cat may have been injured by a car, you may also contact the Animal Control Officer or Police to see if a report of an injured cat has been logged. Failure to keep your animals' rabies vaccinations up to date may result in a fine not to exceed $ 200.00 for each offense.

IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR ALL RESIDENTS

Gianna L. Cross, Argyle Town Clerk - (518) 638-8681 ext. 10
Ed Holland (Dog/Animal Control Officer) - (518) 692-2840
Washington County Sheriff - (518) 747-4623
Washington County Public Health Nurse - (518) 746-2400
Argyle Justice Court - (518) 638-8681 ext. 13

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