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Dogs and Cats
Use the tabs below to learn more about common dog and cat topics:
Although both service dogs and emotional support dogs fulfill important roles in their service to humans, there are key points to remember:
- Emotional Support Dogs (ESAs) are pets and not service dogs.
- Mental health professionals prescribe ESAs under the law. A therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist must determine that the presence of the animal is needed for the mental health of the patient.
- ESAs generally cannot accompany their owners into restaurants or shopping malls.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines service animals as, "dog that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities." The act clearly states that animals that simply provide emotional comfort do not qualify as service animals.
- The key difference between a service dog and an emotional support dog is whether the animal has been trained to perform a specific task or job directly relating to the person's disability.
- Examples: Trained to alert a hearing-impaired person to an alarm OR guide a visually impaired person around an obstacle OR provide pressure on someone with PTSD who is suffering from a panic attack.
- Behaviors such as cuddling on cue, although comforting, do not qualify.
- ESAs are not Psychiatric Service dogs, who detect the beginning of psychiatric episodes and help ease their effects. Though their roles are similar, the difference between a psychiatric service dog and an ESA is in the tasks performed by the dog and the training received to perform these tasks.
- ESAs can perform an important role in the life of a person with mental or emotional conditions. When people who do not have a disability abuse the system by misrepresenting a pet as an ESA to obtain special accommodation, they undermine important accommodations for individuals with a legitimate need for this assistance.
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Please note that the WPD Animal Control does not take in cats for impoundment. Cats that have been hit by a car and reported to the ACO office will be scanned for a microchip and owner will be contacted.
It is also a requirement of the New York State law that cats must be vaccinated for rabies.
Feral Cats are not the responsibility of the Town of Webster.
All inquiries will be directed to:
Habitat for Cats
P.O. Box 25637
Rochester, NY 14526
p: 585-234-2894
email: habitat4cats@yahoo.com
Keller's Kats Rescue Inc.
P.O. Box 26472
Rochester, NY 14626
585-484-1959 (Voicemail only)
Email: kellerskats@gmail.com
New York State Agriculture and Markets (AGM) Law dictates the Town of Webster's response to complaints of dangerous dog cases.
New York State defines a dangerous dog as "any dog which (i) without justification attacks a person, companion animal[...], farm animal [...], or domestic animal [...] and causes physical injury or death, or (ii) behaves in a manner which a reasonable person would believe poses a serious and unjustified imminent threat of serious physical injury or death to one or more persons, companion animals, farm animals or domestic animals or (iii) without justification attacks a service dog, guide dog or hearing dog and causes physical injury or death."
New York State AGM Law says that if a victim comes forward with a complaint, a case must go before the courts. This is to prevent harm and threat to safety and life and to ensure there are no dangerous dogs residing in Webster. In these cases, the behavior is considered and addressed, never dog breed. The outcome of these cases have several humane options.
In Webster, dogs must be licensed through the Webster Town Clerk. Licenses are renewable annually with proof of a current rabies vaccination.
Why license your dog?
It's the law: New York State Agriculture & Markets Law, Article 7, requires that dogs in New York State be licensed and wear their dog license tag.
Easy identification: When wearing a license tag, dogs are easier to identify, enabling them to be reunited with their owner more quickly if they should run off.
Health and safety: By requiring that dog have a valid rabies vaccination prior to licensing, a dog license helps to control and prevent the spread of rabies.
Dog parks: All Monroe County dog parks require a valid dog license and rabies vaccination.
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What is excessive barking?
Barking that is persistent and occurs for an extended period of time or repeated basis. No dog may howl, bark, or yelp excessively or in any other manner so as to unreasonably interfere with the use and/or enjoyment of one's property.
What do you do if your neighbor's dog excessively barks on a continuous basis?
The procedures to file a barking complaint are as follows:
- Barking must be a “continuous” behavior to file a complaint. Occasional occurrences do not constitute excessive barking.
- Talk with your neighbors first before calling Webster Animal Control and explain your concerns for the time of day that the behavior is occurring.
- Meet the dog(s) because dogs often only bark at strangers and not friends. Coordinate with your neighbor to give their dog(s) a treat and ask the dog to sit or obey a command from you. This often will help curb barking in the future.
- Contact Webster Animal Control with all of the following information: name of the homeowner (if known), address of the residence, and the type and number of dog(s) at the address.
- Keep a barking log of dates, times, and duration of the barking behavior or what triggered the barking on the recorded days.
- File a formal complaint with Town of Webster Animal Control Department.
- Submit all collaborating video evidence of the barking dog(s) with your formal complaint (Ring, Nest, home surveillance, etc.).
- Complainant will submit a formal deposition to be filed in Town Court for a possible hearing and court-ordered resolution.
Resources:
Barking Dog Complaint Fact Sheet
All dogs in Webster are subject to leash laws. Dogs must be contained and controlled at all times by an owner, on and off the property. Any destruction or damage is the responsibility of the owner.
All dogs must be equipped with a collar of sufficient strength to restrain the dog and have attached to it a leash of sufficient strength. The leash must be held by a person having the ability to control and restrain the dog by means of the collar or harness and leash. A leash should not be more than eight feet long.
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