113. Dog control officers. 1. Each town and city, and each village in which licenses are issued, shall appoint, and any other village and any county may appoint, one or more dog control officers for the purpose of assisting, within the appointing municipality, with the control of dogs and the enforcement of this article.
2. In lieu of or in addition to the appointment of a dog control officer or officers, any town or city, or any village in which licenses are issued shall, and any other village and any county may, contract for dog control officer services with any other municipality or with any incorporated humane society or similar incorporated dog protective association, or shall appoint, jointly with one or more other municipalities, one or more dog control officers having jurisdiction in each of the cooperating municipalities.
3. Every dog control officer shall have the power to issue an appearance ticket pursuant to section 150.20 of the criminal procedure law, to serve a summons and to serve and execute any other order or process in the execution of the provisions of this article. In addition, any dog control officer or any peace officer, when acting pursuant to his special duties, or police officer, who is authorized by a municipality to assist in the enforcement of this article may serve any process, including an appearance ticket, a uniform appearance ticket and a uniform appearance ticket and simplified information, related to any proceeding, whether criminal or civil in nature undertaken in accord with the provisions of this article or any local law or ordinance promulgated pursuant thereto.
4. Every dog control officer, peace officer, when acting pursuant to his special duties or police officer shall promptly make and maintain a complete record of any seizure and subsequent disposition of any dog. Such record shall include, but not be limited to, a description of the dog, the date and hour of seizure, the official identification number of such dog, if any, the location where seized, the reason for seizure, and the owner's name and address, if known.
5. Every dog control officer shall file and maintain such records for not less than three years following the creation of such record, and shall make such reports available to the commissioner upon request.
6. The governing body of any municipality in which licenses are issued, may, either individually or in cooperation with other municipal entities, require its dog control officer or animal control officer or any other authorized agent to ascertain and list the names of all persons in the municipality owning or harboring dogs, or in lieu thereof, such municipality may contract to have the same done.
Last modified: February 3, 2019