ARTICLE 7 RELATES TO THE LICENSING, IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL OF DOGS AND THE ANIMAL POPULATION CONTROL PROGRAM IN NEW YORK STATE AND IS ADMINISTERED BY THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS. LOCAL OFFICIALS, GENERALLY ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS OR DOG CONTROL OFFICERS, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING ARTICLE 7. WHAT DOGS MUST BE LICENSED? Every dog owned or harbored in New York State for longer than 30 days must be licensed. The following are the only license exemptions: Dogs under four months of age not running at large Dogs harbored in New York City (these dogs must be licensed by the NYC Department of Health) If a non-resident brings a dog into New York State for less than 30 days and the dog is licensed according to the resident state's licensing laws. Dogs confined to the premises of any public or private hospital, research, institution or a Class A Dealer with a certificate of exemption from the Commissioner. HOW TO LICENSE YOUR DOG Apply for a dog license- at your local licensing agent. This would be the clerk of the town, city or, in some counties, village. For guide dogs, war dogs, hearing dogs, police work dogs, detection dogs, therapy dogs and service dogs, satisfactory proof is required, such as a training certificate, etc. for licenses. IN ADDITION TO THE APPLICATION THE OWNER WILL NEED: If the dog is spayed or neutered ? a certificate from a licensed veterinarian or an affidavit from the owner showing that the dog has been spayed or neutered, unless this proof is already on file with the clerk. ALL dogs three months or older must have proof of a rabies vaccination signed by a licensed veterinarian or a Certificate stating why the life of the dog would be endangered by the vaccine. After the application and appropriate certificates are filed and the license fee has been paid, the license will be validated for one year. Each dog is assigned a permanent official identification (ID) number and issued a metal ID tag, which is to be attached to the dog's collar. NO REFUND WILL BE MADE AFTER A LICENSE HAS BEEN VALIDATED. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A PUREBRED LICENSE, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL LICENSING CLERK. LICENSE FEES The statutory license fees are (including local municipality fees): SPAYED OR NEUTERED dogs: $2.50 State fee plus $2.50 Local Fee (Brant) UNSPAYING OR UNNEUTERED dogs $13.00 which consists of: $7.50 State Fee $2.50 Local Fee (Brant) $3.00 Spay/Neuter Fee (This fee is used to fund Animal Population Control Program). GUIDE, WAR, HEARING, POLICE WORK, WORKING SEARCH, SERVICE, DETECTION, or THERAPY dogs: NO FEE The Department of Agriculture and Markets will mail license renewal forms directly to the dog owner. HOW TO CHANGE A LICENSE To ensure the accuracy of license records, it is essential that any change to the information on the license be provided to the local licensing agent who in turn Will notify this Department so that records can be updated. The owner must provide in writing any of the following changes: Dog ownership Dog owner's address Loss or theft of the dog (and if the dog is found, its return) and Death of a dog DISTRIBUTION OF DOG LICENSE MONIES The licensing municipality for dog control services keeps any local fees collected and enforcement of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets law. The state fee is apportion as follows: 53% is retained by the licensing municipality for dog control and enforcement of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets law 30% is sent to the county to reimburse livestock animal owners for dog damage claims. Any unused money is returned to the licensing municipalities annually 17% is forwarded to the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets to provide all dog license forms and identification tags, send renewal applications and maintain From the State's 17% share, a 10-cent fee for each license issued is remitted to Cornell Veterinary College for dog disease studies All other fees, such as impoundment fees and fines and/or penalties for violations are retained by the collecting municipality. LOCAL DOG CONTROL SERVICES Every licensing town, city or village must have a Dog Control Officer (DCO) and municipal shelter services. The DCO and shelter service enforces both State and any local dog laws and ordinances. Further, it is the DCO's responsibility to pick up lost and stray dogs and humanely care for them until they can be reunited with their owner IF YOUR DOG IS LOST OR YOU FIND A LOST DOG, IMMEDIATELY CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DCO OR SHELTER. OWNERS SHOULD SEEK LOST UNIDENTIFIED DOGS AT THE MUNICIPAL SHELTER. If a dog is lost but identified with a NYS identification tag, the DCO will contact the NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets to trace the dog tag to the owner. The local dog control officer must institute action for violations of both state and local laws. Fines or civil penalties shall be up to $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second and $100 for the third and subsequent offenses. If dogs injure or kill livestock, the local assessor should be notified immediately. Do NOT destroy or bury the animals. They must be available for examination so the assessor can appraise the damage [url=%%dir[2]%%DogLicenseForm.pdf]Dog License Form[/url]