Originally Posted by
Lee Chowaniec
NYS Agriculture and Markets
§ 114. Pounds and shelters. 1. Each town and city, and each village in which licenses are issued shall, and any other village and any county may, establish and maintain a pound or shelter for dogs.
2. In lieu of or in addition to establishing and maintaining such pound or .shelter, any town or city, or any village in which licenses are issued shall, and any other village and any county may, contract for pound or shelter services with any other municipality or with any incorporated humane society or similar incorporated dog protective association, or shall establish and maintain, jointly or with one or more other municipalities, a pound or shelter.
Lancaster has maintained its own shelter for decades. The town did attempt to enter into an agreement with the Town of Clarence to share services sometime around 2014. It did not happen. The Walden Ave. brick and mortar building was sold and an inadequate / inefficient 4-kennel shed was built to house dogs seized for myriad reasons and held for redemption, SPCA transfer, rescue transfer, etc. Not one day, but five. For myriad reasons transfers don’t readily take place – primarily because of other shelter availability or contract limitations.
The Town of Lancaster Dog Control Department services the Villages of Lancaster and Depew (Lancaster side) as well. The department provides a 24/7 operation and is need of a new brick & mortar building to replace the undersized / inefficient / inadequate 4-kennel shed. Because the town was awarded a state grant the new facility will cost Lancaster only $77,000 of the estimated $305,000.
Yes, still a lot of taxpayer money, but if the town were to conduct a dog census as it promised several years ago, added the licensing fee revenue from that to that of the 6,000 dogs already licensed, was diligent in pursuing violation fees, etc., the Dog Control Department would become financially near self-sufficient.
When people go back to work, children back to school, IMHO, many recently adopted dogs will be surrendered, abandoned, and worse.
The SPCA is a wonderful organization. It is not the wherewithal to be the county’s gathering and ‘clearinghouse’ some believe it to be,
Lastly, as a lifelong dog owner, it amazes me how little thought is given to volunteers, police, etc. given the task of seizing a dog without any formal dog handling training or proper equipment. One cannot ever be cautious enough in handling a frightened dog acting under duress without fear of being bitten and consequence – especially if the dog is unlicensed and there is no proof of the dog being vaccinated for rabbis.
I respectfully disagree that Lancaster does not need a new shelter, that dogs should be sheltered only one day, that the SPCA and other rescue shelters in place are sufficient, and that animals not adopted within a short period of time are not being euthanized in large numbers.