[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Busti
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 2-4-1980 (Art. 16 of the 1989 Code); amended 1-1-1985; 8-4-1986]
It appearing that dogs in the Town of Busti have, in some instances,
been allowed to cause annoyance and damage to the person and properties
of others, and it appearing further that dogs properly cared for serve
a useful purpose, the Town Board of the Town of Busti enacts the following
ordinance to preserve the relationship between a dog and his master
and, at the same time, to protect the health, safety and property
of others from annoyance and damage caused by dogs.
As used in this article, the following words shall have the
following respective meanings:
- DOG CONTROL OFFICER
- The person authorized by the Town Board, from time to time, by resolution, to enforce the provisions of this article. A Dog Control Officer shall have all of the powers of a constable or other peace officer in the execution of the provisions of this article, including service of a summons, the service of an appearance ticket pursuant to and in accordance with the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, and the service and execution of any other order or process, notwithstanding any provision of the Justice Court Act.
Except where otherwise indicated, this article shall apply to
that portion of Busti bounded as follows:
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Beginning at a point constituting the northwesterly boundary
of the Village of Lakewood, at Chautauqua Lake; running thence westerly
along Chautauqua Lake to the easterly boundary of the Town of North
Harmony; running thence southerly along the easterly boundary of the
Town of North Harmony to the center line of Hunt Road; running thence
easterly to a point where the center line of Hunt Road and the center
line of the Conrail right-of-way intersect; running thence northeasterly
to a point at which the center line of the Conrail right-of-way and
the Village of Lakewood's westerly boundary intersect; running
thence northerly along the westerly bounds of the Village of Lakewood
to the point or place of beginning.
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It shall be unlawful for any owner of or any person harboring
any dog to permit or allow such dog while in the Town of Busti to:
A.
Run at large without being restrained by an adequate collar and leash
no longer than eight feet long or unless accompanied by its owner
or a responsible person able to control the dog, except when on the
owner's property or on the private property of another person with
knowledge and consent of such other person. For the purposes of this
article, a dog or dogs hunting in company with a hunter or hunters
shall be considered as accompanied by its owner.
B.
Engage in habitual loud howling or barking or to conduct itself in
such a manner as to habitually annoy any person other than the owner
or person harboring such dog.
C.
Cause damage or destruction to property or commit a nuisance upon
the premises of a person other than the owner or person harboring
such dog.
D.
Chase or otherwise harass any person in such manner as reasonably
to cause intimidation or to put such person in a reasonable apprehension
of bodily harm or injury.
E.
Habitually chase or bark at motor vehicles.
F.
Defecate in such a way as to cause annoyance to persons other than
the owner.
G.
To tip over ash cans or other devices used to contain refuse.
H.
Remain in the Town of Busti unless licensed in accordance with the
New York State Agriculture and Markets Law.
It shall be unlawful for the owner of or person harboring any
female dog to permit such dog to run at large when in heat, and such
dog shall be confined to enclosed premises of such person during such
period.
A.
This article shall be enforced by the Dog Control Officer or by the
Town Police Department or any other enforcement officer.
B.
The Dog Control Officer or peace officer observing a violation of
this article in his presence shall issue and serve an appearance ticket
for such violation, which appearance ticket shall be in the form prescribed
by the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York and this
article.
Any dog which violates any of the provisions of this article
shall be impounded and taken to such place as may be designated by
the Town Board as a place of detention and shall thereby be properly
fed and cared for at the expense of the Town until disposition thereof
shall have been made in accordance with the provisions of this article.
In the event that the dog seized bears a license tag, the person
seizing the dog shall, within three days thereafter, ascertain the
name of the owner and give the owner immediate notice by serving upon
the owner an instrument, in writing, stating that the dog has been
seized, indicating when, where and why the dog was seized, and stating
that the dog will be destroyed unless redeemed or a trial is demanded
within seven days of the impounding of the dog. This provision shall
apply to the Town of Busti in its entirety.
In the event that the dog seized does not bear a license tag
or the owner is unknown, the Dog Control Officer or other law enforcement
officer shall be authorized to destroy the dog seven days after impounding
or to dispose of the dog by sale or other means, unless the owner
redeems the dog, if permitted, or unless a trial is demanded by the
owner within seven days of seizure. This provision shall apply to
the Town of Busti in its entirety.
If the dog is to be redeemed after having been impounded pursuant
to state law, rule or regulation or Town law or ordinance, the owner
shall pay the Dog Control Officer an impoundment fee of $10 plus $10
per day for the care of the dog while impounded. This provision shall
apply to the Town of Busti in its entirety.
A.
The owner of a dog who is issued an appearance ticket pursuant to § 175-6 herein may answer the same by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, within five days of the violation hereunder provided in lieu of a personal appearance on the return date at the time and court specified in said appearance ticket.
B.
If the person charged with the violation admits to the violation
as charged in the appearance ticket, he may complete the appropriate
form on such appearance ticket and forward such form and appearance
ticket to the office specified on such appearance ticket. Such appearance
ticket shall set forth the schedule of penalties and fines for violations
of this article, and a certified check or money order in the amount
of the penalty for the violation charged shall be submitted with such
answer.
C.
If the person charged with the violation denies part or all of the
violation as charged in the appearance ticket, he may complete the
appearance ticket likewise prescribed for that purpose and forward
such appearance ticket, together with a certified check or money order
in the amount of $15, to the office of the court specified on such
appearance ticket. Upon receipt, such answer shall be entered in the
docket and a new return date established by said court officer. Such
person shall be notified by return mail of the date and place of such
return date and/or trial, and the security shall be returned upon
appearance thereat. If a person shall fail to appear at a return date
when such is provided for pursuant to this section, the security posted
to secure such appearance shall be forfeited and a summons or a warrant
of arrest may be issued pursuant to the Criminal Procedure Law. The
person charged with a violation hereunder, should he or she request
a trial as provided herein, shall pay for the care of the dog while
impounded.
D.
In the event that there is a violation of this article based upon
an information and not an appearance ticket, and the owner of the
dog denies a violation, he shall post bail of $150, shall pay for
the care of the dog while impounded, and shall demand, in writing,
a trial. The Dog Control Officer or other law enforcement officer
shall immediately proceed to file information with a Town Justice
so that the matter will appear on the docket of the Town Justice Court
as soon as possible. The rules of procedure and proof applicable in
criminal actions shall apply.[1]
If an impounded dog is not redeemed or a trial demanded within
the time hereinbefore set forth, the owner shall forfeit title to
the dog, and it may thereafter be sold by the Town or destroyed by
the appropriate official hereinafter provided.
The Dog Control Officer is hereby authorized to sell any dog
impounded at such price as he shall determine to be fair and shall
deposit such sum in the general fund of the Town. The Town shall keep
a record of all sales, and such records shall be open to public inspection.
Such records shall be kept for one year.
In the event that it becomes necessary to destroy a dog, the
Dog Control Officer or other law enforcement officer shall arrange,
through a veterinarian or the Dog Control Officer in his facilities,
to humanely destroy and dispose of the dog. Any Dog Control Officer
that destroys a dog must make a report in writing to the Town Clerk.
This report will be kept on file for one year.
A violation of this article shall be deemed an offense, and
a person convicted of a violation shall be liable for a fine for a
first violation of $25; for a second violation, a fine of $50; and
for a third and subsequent violation, a fine of $75. In addition,
a dog found to be dangerous may be ordered securely confined or destroyed,
in the discretion of the court.
The owner, possessor or harborer or any dog destroyed under
the provisions of this article shall not be entitled to any compensation,
and no action shall be maintainable thereafter to recover the value
of the dog.
[Added 8-25-2000 by L.L. No. 2-2000; amended 12-6-2010 by L.L. No.
2-2010]
A.
License required. All dogs within the Town of Busti four months of
age or older, unless otherwise exempted, shall be licensed. The owner
of each dog required to be licensed shall obtain, complete and return
to the Busti Town Clerk a dog license application, together with the
license application fee, any applicable license surcharges and such
additional fees as may be established by the Town of Busti. Each license
application shall be accompanied by proof that the dog has been vaccinated
against rabies or a statement from a licensed veterinarian that such
vaccination would endanger the dog's life, in which case vaccination
shall not be required.
B.
Expiration of license. All dog licenses shall be valid for a period
of one year, two years, or three years, at the owner's option,
and shall expire at the end of the month one, two or three years from
the date of issuance.
C.
License fees and manner of purchase.
(3)
A multiyear license shall be available only to dogs on a three-year
rabies vaccination cycle.
(4)
All licenses shall be purchased in person at the Town offices. There
shall be no refund of fees.
(5)
All license fees shall be used in funding the administration of the
Dog Control Law of the Town of Busti.
(6)
Such fees may be reviewed from time to time by the Town Board and
amended by resolution of the Town Board, as it deems necessary.
D.
Enumeration fee. When the Town Board determines the need for a dog
enumeration, a fee of $5 will be assessed to the owner of any dog
found unlicensed or for which the license has expired and has not
been renewed at the time the enumeration is conducted.
F.
Service dogs. The Town of Busti shall require a license for any guide
dog, service dog, hearing dog or detection dog, as those terms are
defined by Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law, but no license
fee shall be required therefor.
G.
Shelters. The Town of Busti does not allow the licensing of dogs
by a shelter. The shelter shall send the adoptive dog owners to the
Clerk of the town or city in which the dog will be harbored for licensing
or to the Town Clerk of the Town of Busti where the shelter is located
for the purchase of licensing prior to adoption.