New York state officials are good at writing blank checks with your state tax dollars.

New state regulations that take effect this year are writing more blank checks – this time with your local tax dollars.

Ellicott officials recently approved a contract with an emergency vet while also setting a maximum amount of money to be spent on the care of animals picked up by the dog control officer in need of treatment.

The purpose of the secondary shelter is to have an overflow location if the Chautauqua County Humane Society is too full to take in dogs from the town, something Town Supervisor Janet Bowman said happened in January.

Town Board members also had to establish an emergency veterinary location where an injured dog can be taken for treatment. Of course, as any pet owner can attest, veterinary services aren’t cheap – and town taxpayers will be on the hook for up to $1,000 worth of care for an injured dog that is picked up and taken to the emergency vet. State officials recommend towns set a limit between $1,500 and $4,000 per dog, which it considers “realistic.”

Town officials said they hope to recuperate money spent on the care of injured animals from the owner, but readily acknowledge there will be cases where that doesn’t happen, either because the owner can’t afford to pay or the owner can’t be found. When that happens, town residents are expected to step into the void.

People have known that the state Companion Animal Care Standards Act was coming. They are the reason why animal shelters have been making upgrades and changes to their operations to bring their shelters into compliance with state standards. The standards came in part because puppy mills – the original target of the Companion Animal Care Standards Act – argued that animal snelters and animal rescues should be held to the same standards under the law as puppy mills. Never mind that puppy mills run for profit by breeding animals while animal rescues and shelters are non-profit organizations that work to help abandoned animals. And never mind that the state is now requiring taxpayers to pay for the care of abandoned animals.

It’s a very New York state way to handle the problem. Let’s not forget, earlier this week the state Senate voted to increase your insurance premiums to increase access to infertility treatment. The state has been increasing your utility bills for years under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Whether it’s in big ways or small, New York state’s hand remains in your wallet.