From left Carroll Town Councilman Paul Oyer, Town Supervisor Timothy Burkett, Town Clerk Susan Rowley, and Councilman John Barber.

FREWSBURG – A measure updating laws on nuisance dogs, and related fines, has been approved by the Carroll Town Board.

The update was needed after town officials noticed many of the town’s animal control laws were severely outdated, according to Andrew Theis, town animal control officer.

Theis, alongside help from Town Attorney Andy Goodell, has been hard at work drafting new laws and fine regulations for dog nuisance laws within the town. The need for an update, due to the discovery of outdated regulations, came about due to ongoing problems regarding complaints in the town from residents. Theis noted the ongoing difficulty in correcting these issues as being related to the need for more modern regulations, something Theis hopes will keep people happier and safer within the town.

The new revisions toward the laws were inspired by a mix of laws from other nearby municipalities, including the town of Ellery and village of Falconer, according to Theis. The updates give more modern definitions towards what qualifies as a nuisance to start. These new definitions of what constitutes a nuisance includes frequent continued excessive/unreasonable noise, digging in gardens, chasing individuals, and defecation being left of public property. The problem of defecation being left in public is one which Theis noted was a frequent occurrence within the town, making it a crucial revision to lessen complaints from residents.

Board members also saw changes to what defines a dangerous dog within the town and set fines for violations of these new revised laws. Theis stated the new fine schedule lists a first offense as a fine of up to $50, second as up to $100, and $250 for the third offense with the possibility of 15 days of confinement. This is far different than the previously established regulations for the town, with Theis noting previous laws did not even set specific fine amounts.

The town also pulled further inspiration from Falconer with a new regulation to limit the number of dogs a household may own within the water district portion of the town. This boundary was chosen due to the water district having a clearly defined area, something Goodell noted that the town does not. This revision would cap the number of licensed dogs one could own in the area to two, with the ability to apply for a special variance according to Goodell and Theis. Both Goodell and Theis wished to ease public concerns by noting that people who are currently over the new limit will be grandfathered in and there will also be special exceptions made for dog breeders in the water district.

The town hopes to hear a reduction in complaints as a result of these new revisions, and anyone with further questions about the new laws is encouraged to contact the town at 716-569-5365.