NORTH EAST — Usually when one thinks of a census one imagines census takers counting heads — human heads. Simple, right? Well, in the town of North East, Dog Control Officer James Riley wants to conduct a census of his own, to figure out just how many people, no, dogs, live there.
The purpose? To get the canines licensed by the town, as they are supposed to be by law.
"The typical reply is, ‘I didn’t know I had to have my dog licensed,’" Riley told the Town Board during its meeting last Thursday night.
To do the census, Riley said he will need all of the town’s 911 addresses and property owners’ names. From there he (or a hired contractor) will visit each residence to find out if it’s home to a dog, and if so, if that dog is licensed. If not, the dog owner will be told to visit the town clerk and register his or her pet. To do so, an owner will need proof the animal is up-to-date on its rabies vaccines and if it has, or has not, been spayed or neutered. The cost to register a spayed or neutered dog is $7.50; the cost to register a dog that has not been spayed or neutered is $15.50. Additionally, there will be a small charge for not having the proper dog license in the first place.
"The state mandates that any dog license done during numeration is $5 extra, like a penalty," Riley said.
From there the dog will be added to a list of dogs up to date on registration.
"This hasn’t been done since the ‘70s," Councilman Dave McGhee said. "We want it done so it starts to pay for the wages for the dog warden."
"It’s also a public health issue," added Councilman Dan Briggs.
Sometimes, Riley said, residents don’t want to cooperate. That’s when the matter heads to court.
"To do this right, court is going to be a real necessary tool," he said. "This is going to be a lot of footwork between the town clerk, the dog control officer and the court."
Town Supervisor Dave Sherman asked Riley if he would be the one to conduct the census. Riley said "yes," depending on the fee.
"The service can’t just be a per dog thing because there is going to be a lot of court time," he said, adding that all of the money collected from the licensing, fines and court fees will revert back to town coffers.
"You would do a good job for us," Councilman Carl Stahovec said in favor of hiring Riley to do the census. "You’re on the ball."
"I know we would like to get this organized and going by the spring," Sherman said. "I think even if we hired somebody else to do this, even then we would want you to coordinate it."
Dog licenses must be renewed annually at Town Hall or through the mail.