Download Form: DogLicense.pdf
ARTICLE 7 RELATES TO THE LICENSING, IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL OF DOGS AND THE ANIMAL POPULATION CONTROL PROGRAM IN NEW YORK STATE AND IS ADMINISTERED BY THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS. DOGS HARBORED IN NEW YORK CITY, HOWEVER, MUST BE LICENSED BY THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. LOCAL OFFICIALS, GENERALLY ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS OR DOG CONTROL OFFICERS, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING ARTICLE 7.
Every dog owned or harbored in New York State for longer than 30 days must be licensed. The following are the only license exemptions:
~Dogs under four months of age not running at large
~Dogs harbored in New York City (these dogs must be licensed by the NYC Department of Health)
~If a non-resident brings a dog into New York State for less than 30 days and the dog is licensed according to the resident state’s licensing laws
~Dogs confined to the premises of any public or private hospital, research institution or a Class A Dealer with a certificate of exemption from the Commissioner.
~Apply for a dog license at your local licensing agent. This would be the clerk of the town, city, or in some counties village.
~For guide dogs, war dogs, hearing dogs, police work dogs, detection dogs, therapy dogs and service dogs, satisfactory proof is required, such as a training certificate, etc. for licenses.
* IN ADDITION TO THE APPLICATION THE OWNER WILL NEED:
if the dog is spayed or neutered - a certificate from a licensed veterinarian or an affidavit from the owner showing that the dog has been spayed or neutered, unless this proof is already on file with the clerk.
ALL dogs three months or older must have proof of a rabies vaccination signed by a licensed veterinarian or a certificate stating why the life of the dog would be endangered by the vaccine.
After the application and appropriate certificates are filed and the license fee has been paid, the license will be validated for one year. Each dog is assigned a permanent official identification (ID) number and issued a metal ID tag which is to be attached to the dog’s collar. NO REFUND WILL BE MADE AFTER A LICENSE HAS BEEN VALIDATED.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A PUREBRED LICENSE, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL LICENSING CLERK.
The statutory license fees are:
~for SPAYED OR NEUTERED dogs: $2.50
~for UN-SPAYED OR NEUTERED dogs: $10.50 ($3.00 of this fee is used to fund the Animal Population Control Program)
~for GUIDE, WAR, HEARING, POLICE WORK, WORKING SEARCH, SERVICE, DETECTION, or THERAPY dogs: NO FEE
* In addition to the state fees, any licensing municipality may impose a local license fee up to $10.00 Call your municipal clerk for the local fee amount.
* License renewal forms will be mailed directly to the dog owner by the Department of Agriculture and Markets.
| Dog Fees | State Fee | Town Fee | Total Fee |
| Male neutered* | 2.50 | 5.00 | 7.50 |
| Female spayed* | 2.50 | 5.00 | 7.50 |
| Male unneutered | 10.50 | 5.00 | 15.50 |
| Female unspayed | 10.50 | 5.00 | 15.50 |
| Purebred License (1-10) | 25.00 | 10.00 | 35.00** |
| Purebred License (11-25) | 50.00 | 10.00 | 60.00** |
| Purebred License (26- ) | 100.00 | 10.00 | 110.00** |
A license is required by NYS law for all dogs when 4 months old. A rabies certificate showing proof of current vaccination is needed for a license.
Licenses may be sent for by mail. Enclose a self addressed, stamped envelope for return by mail, or pick them up at Town Clerk’s Office. Mailing adress: 53 N. Main St. PO Box 179, castile, NY 14427-0179. Telephone:493-2440.
Renewals after dog is licensed: The State should send an owner the renewal form. If you do not receive it one year after dog is licensed, let us know.
Town of Castile provieds a subsidy of $10.00 towards neutering of a dog, $15.00 towards spaying of a dog.
Please notify this office promptly of any changes in address, ownership, or the death of the dog.
Thank you for your consideration and help.
To ensure the accuracy of license records, it is essential that any change to the information on the license be provided to the local licensing agent who in turn will notify this Department so that records can be updated. The owner must provide in writing any of the following changes:
~dog ownership
~dog owner’s address
~loss or theft of the dog (and if the dog is found, its return) and
~death of a dog
Any local fees collected are kept by the licensing municipality for dog control services and enforcement of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets law. The state fee is apportioned as follows:
~ 53% is retained by the licensing municipality for dog control and enforcement of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets law.
~ 30% is sent to the county to reimburse livestock animal owners for dog damage claims. Any unused money is returned to the licensing municipalities annually.
~ 17% is forwarded to the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets to provide all dog license forms and identification tags, send renewal applications and maintain the centralized database of dog licenses.
~ from the State’s 17% share, a 10 cent fee for each license issued is remitted to Cornell Veterinary College for dog disease studies. All other fees, such as impoundment fees and fines and/or penalties for violations are retained by the collecting municipality.
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. Further, it is the DCO’s responsibility to pick up lost and stray dogs and humanely care for them until they can be reunited with their owners.
IF YOUR DOG IS LOST OR YOU FIND A LOST DOG, IMMEDIATELY CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DCO OR SHELTER. OWNERS SHOULD SEEK LOST UNIDENTIFIED DOGS AT THE MUNICIPAL SHELTER.
If a dog is lost but identified with a NYS identification tag, the DCO will contact the NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets to trace the dog tag to the owner.
The local dog control officer must institute action for violations of both state and local laws. Fines or civil penalties shall be up to $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second and $100 for the third and subsequent offenses.
If dogs injure or kill livestock, the local assessor should be notified immediately. Do NOT destroy or bury the animals. They must be available for examination so the assessor can appraise the damage.