402.2003
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ESTABLISHMENT OF SPAY/NEUTER
PROGRAM FOR TOWN OF QUEENSBURY
RESOLUTION NO.: 402, 2003
INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Daniel Stec
WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION
SECONDED BY: Mr. Roger Boor
WHEREAS, municipalities are authorized under Article 7 of the New York State Agriculture
and Markets Law §117 to provide for the establishment and operation of facilities to provide spay and
neutering of dogs and cats owned by the residents of the municipality, and
WHEREAS, overpopulation of dogs and cats, including the population of unwanted and stray
dogs and cats, poses a potential threat to public health and safety, and
§
WHEREAS, as set forth in Agriculture and Markets Law 377-a, the New York State
Legislature has specifically found that the uncontrolled breeding of dogs and cats results in an
overabundance of puppies and kittens and that there are more puppies and kittens than responsible
homes for them can be provided, leading to the animals becoming stray and suffering starvation and
death, being impounded and destroyed at great expense to the community and constituting a public
nuisance and health hazard and it has been declared to be the public policy of New York State that
every feasible humane means of reducing the production of unwanted puppies and kittens be
encouraged, and
WHEREAS, the Town of Queensbury’s Animal Control Officer and Executive Director of
Community Development have recommended to the Town Board that the Town fund a Spay/Neuter
Program to reduce overpopulation of dogs and cats and to allow for the low cost spay and neutering of
animals owned by Town residents, and
WHEREAS, the Town Animal Control Officer and Executive Director of Community
Development have recommended to the Town Board that $2,871.21 of the funds now contained in the
general account, which funds may include fees raised from licensing and/or from fines imposed for
violations of animal control laws, be applied to this Program, and
WHEREAS, the SPCA of Upstate New York has indicated a desire and willingness to work
with the Town to establish such a Spay/Neuter Program, and
WHEREAS, the SPCA of Upstate New York has indicated a willingness to provide veterinary
services at a charge of not more than $50 per animal, and
WHEREAS, more than 40 animals in the Town could likely be spayed or neutered under such
a Program,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board hereby authorizes the establishment of a
Spay/Neuter Program for a one year period and $2,871.21 from the Town’s General Fund shall be
devoted to off-setting the cost of the Spay/Neuter Program, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that pet owners will be required to pay $5 of the total charge for spaying and
neutering their pets under this Program and the Town will pay the remaining expense from these funds,
and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that participation in the Spay/Neuter Program shall be limited to pets of Town
residents; and
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BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that Program participants will be required to sign a waiver indicating their
understanding of the risks to their animal and their agreement that neither the Town, the SPCA of
Upstate New York, nor the veterinarian who performs the service will have any liability for damage or
injury to the animal, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that participants will be required to license any dogs that are unlicensed as a
condition of participating in the Program, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that this Program will not entitle any Town resident to have any animal spayed
or neutered as participating veterinarians will make the final determination of whether an animal is a
good candidate for the procedure and will have the right to refuse to spay or neuter any animal and
when funds dedicated to this procedure have been exhausted, there may not be additional funds
available to continue the Program, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board authorizes and directs the Town Animal Control Officer to
take the steps necessary to enter into an agreement with the SPCA of Upstate New York, to create an
appropriate waiver form, and to alert the public to the availability of this Program, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board further authorizes and directs the Town’s Executive
Director of Community Development and/or Town Supervisor to execute an appropriate agreement
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with the SPCA of Upstate New York, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board further authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor, Town
Comptroller and Town Counsel to take such action as necessary to effectuate the terms of this
Resolution.
th
Duly adopted this 8 day of September, 2003, by the following vote:
AYES: Mr. Boor, Mr. Stec, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Brower
NOES: None
ABSENT:Mr. Turner
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