The village of Herkimer has a new, stricter animal control law in hopes of cutting down on the number of animals potentially running loose in the village.
The board updated chapter 85 of its animal control law which includes harsher penalties for repeat dog-at-large offenders.
The law had a last minute update before the board voted in the new law at Tuesday’s Herkimer Village Board of Trustees meeting. Initially the law called for a $10 redemption fee to claim a lost animal, but Trustee Tina Cirelli thought the charge should increase for repeat offenders after talking to village animal control officer Jim Hawkins.
Now a first offense redemption fee is $25, the second is $50 and the third is $100.
“We should raise it by offense because some people constantly (have to pick up their animals). It is costing (the village) an awful lot,” said Cirelli.
Village Attorney Nicholas Macri cautioned that the redemption fee and penalty fee are two different items, with the redemption fee being associated with picking up the animal and the penalty fee being associated with the village court.
Penalties for the first offense is a civil penalty of $100. The second offense within a two year period is $150 and the third offense within a two year period is $250.
The law restricts the number of animals to no more than five dogs or cats combined, six months of age and older, to be kept on any single premise, regardless of the number of owners.
It also contains sections regarding other animals besides dogs and cats, such as ferrets, iguanas, livestock animals and prohibits wild animals from being kept as pets. Other sections include leash and pooper scooper ordinances, both of which are required.
The law took effect immediately.
Macri added the board has been discussing this law for months.
Cirelli urged people to have animals spayed and neutered and to be considerate when letting animals out of the house.
Herkimer, N.Y. —
