Tri-Lakes Humane Society

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. It is the DCO's responsibility to pick up lost and stray dogs and humanely care for them until they can be claimed by their owner or placed up for adoption.

The Tri-Lakes Humane Society has Dog Control and Shelter Service contracts with the following townships:

Village of Saranac Lake, Town of Harrietstown, Town of St. Armand, Town of Franklin, Town of Santa Clara and Town of Brighton.              

We also have additional Shelter Service contracts with these townships:

Village of Lake Placid and Town of Long Lake

Love me, License Me.

The Tri-Lakes Humane Society is required by NYS law that all dogs being adopted or redeemed must be licensed either in NYS, or in the owner's resident state. Our Shelter Manager/Dog Control Officer is deputized to be able to license dogs through our facility for dogs being adopted or redeemed by their owner.

New York State requires that all dogs owned or harbored in the state for longer than 30 days, and over the age of 4 months, must be licensed. You can obtain a NYS dog license through your local Town Clerk's office. A copy of a current rabies vaccination certificate is required to license your dog (all dogs over the age of 3 months must be rabies vaccinated). If you dog is spayed or neutered, you must bring a copy of a valid spay or neuter certificate from a licensed veterinarian to the Town Clerk.

If your dog is a guide dog, therapy dog, working dog, hearing dog, police work dog, or service dog, you must bring certified proof of training to obtain a dog license. There is no required license fee for these dogs.

License Fees: NYS has a minimum required license fee per dog license.

- Spayed or Neutered dog: $2.50

- Unspayed or Unneutered dog:  $10.50 ($3.00 of this fee is used to fund the Animal Population Control Program)

In addition to the state license fee, your local municipality may collect an additional fee up to $10.00. Call your Town Clerk to find out the local license fee amount.

Dogs that are under 4 months of age that are found running at large must be licensed upon claiming the dog from a municipal shelter. If a non-resident brings a dog into NYS for less that 30 days, the dog must still be licensed in accordance with the resident state's licensing laws.

*** New York State Law also requires all dogs be properly identified with a valid NYS Agriculture and Markets tag. You receive this when you license your dog for the first time. If lost, a new tag can be purchased for $2.00 from the Town Clerk.

NYS Licensing Links:

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us

Dog License Application (DL-1) (Must be in triplicate)
http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/AI/DL-1.pdf

Dog License Program
http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/AI/Doglic.html

Please note that each Town or Village has a different set of ordinances governing the Dog Control in the town/village. To find out what your town's Dog Control Ordinances are, please contact your local Town or VillageClerk, or Dog Control Officer.

The Tri-Lakes Humane Society's Dog Control Officers are responsible for enforcing Dog Control Laws for 5 towns and the Village of Saranac Lake. Here is a summarized list of the ordinances:

- Dogs allowed to run at large (off owner's property)

- Dogs that howl, bark, cry or whine in a disturbing or annoying manner.

- Dogs that cause damage or destruction to public or privately owned property other than the owner's property (this includes digging, defacting and urinating).

- Dogs that bite, chase, jump upon, harass or initimidate any person.

- Dogs that chase, run alongside, leap upon, or harass any bicyclist or motor vehicle.

- Dogs that are unlicensed.

- Dogs that are unidentified.

- Dogs wearing a false NYS dog license ID tag.

- Female dogs that are in heat while off their owner's property.

- Dangerous dogs that attack, or threaten to attack, any person, companion or farm animal. 

- Dogs that kill or cripple Deer (civil penalties are $100 for the first deer, and $150 for each additional deer).

Any person that is convicted on any of these violations will be required to pay a court fine. Fines for a first offense in the Towns and Village that we cover ranges from $25-$50. Second offense, $50-$100. Third offense and any subsequent violation $75 - 250.

The owner of a dog that kills or injures any domestic animal, will be held liable for damages (including veterinary bills) within the County of residence.

The Dog Control Officer has the authority to seize:

- Any dog that is not identified and which is running at large (not on the owner's premises).

- Any dog which is not licensed, whether on or off the owner's premises.

- Any licensed dog which is not under the control of its owner or custodian, or not on the premises of the owner or custodian, if there is probable cause to believe the dog is a dangerous dog.

- Any dog which poses an immediate threat to public safety.

*Every dog that is seized, shall be properly sheltered, fed and watered at the Tri-Lakes Humane Society during the redemption period in accordance with Section 118 of Article 7 of the NYSDAM Law.

**Upon seizure of an identified dog that was running at large, or a dangerous dog, or one that poses an immediate threat, the owner shall be notified personally or via certified mail. If notification was personally given, the dog will be held for 7 days after the day of notice, and the owner can claim the dog during this time. If notification made by certified mail, the dog will be held for a period of 9 days from the date of mailing, and the owner can claim the dog during this period.

**Unidentifed dogs, whether or not licensed, will be held for a period of 5 days from the day the dog was seized. An owner can redeem their dog with proof that the dog has a current NYS dog license, rabies vaccination, and pay all impoundment or kenneling fees.

**Dangerous dogs, or ones that have posed an immediate threat to public safety, will be held pending a dangerous dog complaint that will be filed with the respective Town or Village Justice. Once the Justice has reviewed any complaint(s) made against the dog, the Justice will set a date and time for a Dangerous Dog Hearing, and notification will be presented to the owner of the dog. The Justice will also hold the right to determine if the dog is to remain held by the Dog Control Officer pending the hearing.

Owners shall forfeit ownership or title to any dog that is unredeemed at the end of the expiration of the redemption period, and the dog shall be made available and evaluated for adoption or euthanasia.

The Impoundment fees at the Tri-Lakes Humane Society for stray dogs are as follows:

- $10 for the first impoundment of any dog by that person.

- $20 for the second impoundment, of any dog owned by that person within 1 year of first impoundment.

- $30 for the third impoundment or subsequent impoundment, of any dog owned by that person within 1 year of the first impoundment.

For Dangerous Dog impoundments, the impoundment fees are as follows:

- $10 first impoundment, plus a $20/day kenneling fee.

- $20 second impoundment, plus a $20/day kenneling fee.

- $30 third impoundment or subsequent impoundment, plus a $20/day kenneling fee.

The Village of Saranac Lake requires an additional kenneling fee for dog owners as follows:

- First impoundment fee, plus $10/day kenneling fee.

- Second impoundment fee, plus $10/day kenneling fee.

- Third impoundment fee, plus $10/day kenneling fee.