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Columbia-Greene Humane Society
125 Humane-Society Road
Hudson, NY 12534 (518) 828-6044
Soft Paws By Aaron Clause Dog Law Dog ownership is regulated by New York State’s Department of Agriculture and Markets. I’ve dedicated this week’s column to locating some facts in Article 7 of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law (Licensing, Identification, and Control of Dogs) that could be of use to dog owners and non-owners alike. If you desire further information on Article 7 or any State regulations on dog ownership, you can call the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets at (518) 457-2728. 1) Your dog MUST be LICENSED! If your dog is at least six months old, then you will be in violation of law if he or she is not licensed. To obtain a license, you must simply have your dog rabies vaccinated, then apply for the license at your Town Hall for a small fee ($13.00 for unaltered dogs, $5.00 for spayed and neutered dogs). You will be issued a paper copy for your records, and a metal tag that MUST be permanently affixed to your dog by a collar. There are NO other tags considered as valid identification by State Law. If you are in violation of this law, you can receive fines for both failure to license and failure to place New York State identification on your dog. You can also be in danger of accruing other fines and/or charges, as described in 2), below. 2) Dog Seizure by Dog Control Officer Dog Control Officers (D.C.O.s) and local police officers are required by law to seize dogs which carry no New York State License Tag. If your dog is unlicensed, a D.C.O. or police officer MUST take the dog right off your property! The consequences of this happening can include fines as described in 1), above, as well as impoundment (pick-up and housing) fees. Impoundment fees are set by individual towns – check with your Town Clerk to find out what your Town charges. Currently in Columbia and Greene Counties, this amount can be up to $150.00. Point being – license and tag your dog, and don’t let him or her run free! 3) Biting Dogs Owners of dogs which bite can be fined and forced to pay civil penalties for destruction and injury they cause to people, domestic animals, and livestock. Victims of biting and property destruction should notify their D.C.O., the County Sheriff, and the County Assessor, who will begin a prompt investigation and inform you of your rights. Should you have any questions as to your rights as a dangerous dog victim, please consult the Department of Agriculture and Markets. 4) Licensing and money Distribution Money received through licensing and impoundments are distributed between the Town in which they were collected and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets in order to uphold and maintain the provisions of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law, and to subsidize public humane education programs, spay/neuter programs, and the prevention of cruelty to animals. Again, if you have any questions regarding Article 7 and the licensing, identification, or control of dogs, feel free to contact the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets or the shelter. Stop down and visit us at 125 Humane Society Road, off Route 66 (about a mile south of the intersection with Route 9H) in Hudson. Our hours are Monday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and until 7 p.m. on Thursday.
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