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http://www.stargazette.com/apps/pbcs...0316/1001/News

HORSEHEADS - After some debate, Horseheads Village Board members agreed Thursday on how many dogs and cats can be in a home before the owners must apply for a permit as a kennel.

The board agreed that a kennel is defined as a residence with more than two dogs or cats. Residents living in what is defined as a kennel would have to get a free permit from the village.

Board members will vote in October on the revised village animal control law, said Village Manager Vincent Azzarelli, of which the kennel definition would be one part.

The revised law was proposed after residents voiced complaints to the board about unruly pets, Azzarelli said Thursday during a board workshop.

If the law is approved, those residents who have neighbors living within 200 feet would have to seek written permission from their neighbors to be approved as a kennel, Mayor Pat Gross said. Forms would be made available at the village hall.

If neighbors decline to sign the form, the permit would be denied.

In addition, when residents with a permit change the number of dogs and cats in the house, they would need to get the permit revised to reflect the change, Gross said.

The proposed law also sets a $25 minimum fine for a first offense when residents allow their dog to be noisy, run wild or pose a threat, Azzarelli said. "The judge has the leeway from $25 to $100 for the first violation; the second can go as high as $200; the third can go up to $300 to $350," he said.

The board discussed licensing cats but decided against it. "I think the general consensus is the licensing of cats would be very expensive and burdensome on the village," he said.

Copies of the proposed law are available at Village Hall at 202 S. Main St.

In other business, the board discussed plans for the village-owned LRC building, which sits on four acres on South Avenue in an area zoned as light industrial.

After reviewing several options, the board decided that demolishing the 71,000-square-foot building at a cost of $300,000 would be the least expensive option for the village, Azzarelli said.

"I think what I've been told is to look for money through the federal and state government to tear it down so we can start fresh," he said of the former Thomas & Betts manufacturing plant.



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This isnt the town I live in, but its about 10 minutes away. Its not a terrible idea, however, I think 2 is a bit low to be called a kennel.