Public Hearing: Outdoor Restraint of Pets

TOWN OF RIVERHEAD
PUBLIC NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that a public hearing will be held on the 5th day of May, 2015 at 2:15 p.m. at Riverhead Town Hall, 200 Howell Avenue, Riverhead, New York, to consider a proposed local law to amend Chapter 58 of the Riverhead Town Code entitled, “Dogs” as follows:

Chapter 58
DOGS
ARTICLE II
Outdoor Restraint of Pets

§ 58-15. Definitions.

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

PERSON — Any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, society, association, or any organized group of persons, whether incorporated or not.

§ 58-16. Prohibitions.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to tether, leash, fasten, secure, restrain, chain or tie a dog to any stationary object outdoors or cause such dog to be restrained in a manner that:

(1) Endangers such dog’s health, safety or well-being;

(2) Restricts such dog’s access to suitable and sufficient food and water;

(3) Does not provide such dog with shelter appropriate to its breed, physical condition, and the climate as defined by § 353-b of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law; or

(4) Unreasonably limits the movement of such dog because it is too short for the dog to move around or for the dog to urinate or defecate in a separate area from the area where it must eat, drink or lie down.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this section, no person shall tether, leash, fasten, secure, restrain, chain or tie a dog to any stationary object for any amount of time with a device that:

(1) Is a choke collar or pinch collar, or a similar collar that restrains the dog in such a manner that it impairs the flow of oxygen or blood to the dog which may cause choking, or causes substantial discomfort to the dog;

(2) Is embedded, partially embedded or may become embedded in such dog’s skin;

(3)  Has weights attached or contains links that are more than 1/4 inch thick;

(4) Weighs more than 25% of the dog’s total body weight, not to exceed 25 pounds for any dog;

(5)  Is less than 10 feet in length;

(6)  Because of its design or placement is likely to become entangled;

(7) Is long enough to allow such dog to move outside of its owner’s property; or

(8) Would allow the restrained dog to move over an object or edge that could result in the strangulation of or injury to such dog.

C. No person shall tether, leash, fasten, secure, restrain, chain, or tie a dog to any stationary object outdoors for more than 2 hours in any 12 hour period.

§ 58-17. Penalties for offenses.

A. Violation of this article shall constitute a violation, subject to a fine of up to $500.

• Underline represents addition(s)
• Overstrike represents deletion(s)

Dated:  Riverhead, New York
April 7, 2015

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD
OF THE TOWN OF RIVERHEAD

DIANE M. WILHELM, TOWN CLERK