Section 209-CC. Notification of presence of wild animals and dangerous dogs  


Latest version.
  • 1.  The  knowledge  of  the  presence  of  dangerous  wild  animals, and
      dangerous dogs, in the  context  of  emergency  services  responses,  is
      necessary  to protect public safety and the safety of emergency services
      personnel.
        2. As used in this section:
        (a) the term "emergency services personnel" means  fire,  police,  and
      ambulance personnel.
        (b)  the term "person" means any individual, partnership, corporation,
      association, or other entity.
        (c) the term "wild animal" means any or all of  the  following  orders
      and families:
        (1) Nonhuman primates and prosimians;
        (2) Felidae (with the exception of domesticated cats);
        (3) Canidae (with the exception of domesticated dogs);
        (4) Ursidae;
        (5)  All  venomous  snakes and all constrictors and python snakes that
      are ten feet or greater in length; and
        (6) Crocodilia that are five feet or greater in length.
        (d) the term "dangerous dog" means a dog found dangerous  pursuant  to
      the  provisions of section one hundred twenty-one of the agriculture and
      markets law.
        3. The state fire administrator, in consultation with  the  department
      of  environmental conservation, shall develop and maintain a list of the
      common names of wild animals to be reported.
        4. Except  for  pet  dealers  as  defined  in  section  seven  hundred
      fifty-two-a  of  the  general business law and zoological facilities and
      other exhibitors licensed pursuant to title 7 U.S.C. sections  2133  and
      2134,   and   in   the  case  of  dangerous  dogs  except  for  licensed
      veterinarians in temporary possession of such dogs, every person owning,
      possessing, or harboring a wild animal or a dangerous  dog  within  this
      state  shall report the presence thereof to the clerk of the city, town,
      or village in  which  such  wild  animal  or  dangerous  dog  is  owned,
      possessed, or harbored. Such report shall be filed annually on a date to
      be  determined  by the state fire administrator in the manner prescribed
      by the state fire administrator. A separate report shall  be  filed  for
      each  street  address at which any such wild animal or dangerous dog may
      be found.
        5. Such clerk shall forward a copy of such report to each state police
      troop, county sheriff, and municipal police agency  having  jurisdiction
      over  the  location of such wild animal or dangerous dog. A copy thereof
      shall also be forwarded to each fire department,  fire  corporation,  or
      fire  company  serving  such location and to each ambulance or emergency
      medical service  department,  ambulance  corporation,  or  ambulance  or
      emergency  medical  service  company  serving  such location. In lieu of
      forwarding a copy of each report, the clerk may compile the contents  of
      the several reports, and forward the compilation.
        6.  Any  person  who  fails to report the presence of a wild animal or
      dangerous dog as required in this section shall be subject  to  a  civil
      penalty  of  not  more  than  two  hundred  fifty  dollars for the first
      offense, and upon being found guilty of a second or subsequent  offense,
      by  a  civil  penalty of not less than two hundred fifty dollars or more
      than one thousand dollars. Except as otherwise provided by law,  such  a
      violation  shall  not  be  a crime and the penalty or punishment imposed
      therefor shall not be deemed for  any  purpose  a  criminal  penalty  or
      punishment  and shall not impose any disability upon or affect or impair
      the credibility as a witness, or otherwise, of  a  person  found  guilty
      thereof.