Every dog has its day, but not all of them are properly licensed in Hornell.
That was the message delivered by city officials during the March meeting of the Hornell Board of Public Safety.
Codes officers said the department is making a strong push to increase compliance with the licensing requirement by stepping up outreach to residents, emphasizing coordination and cooperation, and issuing tickets to repeat offenders.
The emphasis comes as Hornell police handle an increasing number of dog issues, “whether it be biting or whether it be dogs at large,” Police Chief Ted Murray told the public safety board.
This is how many licensed dogs there are in Hornell
According to officials, there are 638 dogs with current licenses in the City of Hornell. A license cost $7.50 if the animal is spayed or neutered and $15.50 if they are not. Licenses must be renewed yearly.
A 2022 city ordinance limits the number of dogs allowed per household to no more than four over the age of four months. The limit on cats per household is five.
New York state requires all dogs to be licensed. Protecting the public is the primary goal of dog licensing in Hornell, city officials stressed.
“The biggest thing is safety. If a dog has its license, then you know it is up to date on its rabies shots,” said Hornell Deputy Mayor Jessica Cleveland.
Cleveland said some situations come up that trigger license checks.
“(Codes) might get a complaint about someone having dog feces in the yard that they are not cleaning it up. Or a dog at large is being handled by the police department,” Cleveland said. “That prompts us to ask, ‘Is there a dog license at that location?’”
Codes more apt to let the courts get involved
Bud Burdett, the City of Hornell director of Facilities Management and Neighborhood Revitalization, while not specifically addressing dog licensing, said the Codes Office overall is writing more tickets and letting the courts sort it out.
Cleveland said taking dog owners to court “sends a message” that the city is serious about the issue, but she noted that citations are rarely if ever issued for first offenses.
“If you are in court, you have probably gone a half a year, or at least three or four months (without getting the dog licensed),” she said. “We only want compliance. We say, ‘OK, next month come in and show the dog is licensed.’
“We want to keep the community safe. We are not looking to grab a penalty or a fine or fee.”
The City Codes Book includes a detailed section on dogs that explains violations and penalties, fees, enforcement policies and Hornell’s contract with the Humane Society.
Those issued an appearance ticket who admit to a violation are subject to fees ranging from $100 for a first offense to $150 if there was an additional violation within the last five years, and $250 for two or more violations in the last five years, according to the City Codes Book.
Fines can range from $25 up to $100 for people who have committed two or more violations within the last five years.
Murray assigns point person to work with Humane Society
The Hornell Area Humane Society contracts with the city for dog control. Murray said he assigned Seth Blanchard, Hornell police K9 officer who works days, to serve as the department’s liaison to the Humane Society.
“I have spoken with the Humane Society on a couple of occasions and that connection has gone very well,” Cleveland said.
Cleveland said it is a great benefit to have a “point person” with the base of knowledge and experience Blanchard brings to the position.
Email Neal Simon at nsimon@gannett.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Hornell gets serious about unlicensed dogs. Here’s what city is doing
Reporting by Neal Simon, Hornell Evening Tribune / The Evening Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
