N.Y. General Municipal Law § 209-cc: Notification of presence of wild animals and dangerous dogs

§ 209-cc. Notification of presence of wild animals and dangerous dogs.

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-three 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.