A bill, sponsored by Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair Bill Magee (D-Nelson), looking to provide dog owners with greater options in the licensing of their dogs has received final passage in the Assembly. The bill will now be on its way to the Governor.
"Anything we can do to encourage dog owners to license their animals is a good thing," Magee said. "If allowing dog owners to purchase three year licenses makes it easier for these people to license their dogs they will be more apt to license them which is good for the communities and their residents."
Under current law, a town may only issue a license on an annual basis but under this bill towns would be authorized to issue licenses for up to three years. In 2003, approximately 700,000 dog licenses were issued – outside of New York City – although it is believed that this still represents only a relatively small percentage of the total dogs in New York State. Also, given that a portion of the licensing fee for unaltered dogs does into the animal population control fund, by expanding the opportunities for dog licensing we will be able to greatly increase the number of dogs licensed and the funding available for the low cost spay/neuter programs.
"This is really just a matter of good government – we should be providing the residents of this state and its communities with a variety of options for ensuring that their dogs are duly licensed, because ultimately it is everyone’s interest when those animals are licensed," Magee concluded.
The bill, which has already passed the Senate, was sponsored by Senator Cathy Young (R-Olean).
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