All dogs in New York State must be licensed once they reach the age of 4 (four) months. 

Licenses are issued by the Town Clerk’s office where you reside and renew annually. 

You will need a current certificate of rabies vaccination (the clerk is required to see the form) and proof of spaying or neutering.

The fee for an unspayed/neutered dog is $18.00 and for a spayed/neutered dog is $10.00.

If you are 65 years of age you may deduct $5.00 from the appropriate dog license fee. 

The Town of Durham does not issue purebred dog licenses.

Yes the law requires that your dog wear the tag.  The purpose of the tag is to assist in locating the dog’s owner should you and your dog become separated. 

Contact the Town Clerk for a replacement tag. You will be required pay $5.00 for the tag.

NYS defines the “owner” of a dog as any person who keeps or harbors (provides food or shelter to) any dog.  Should you encounter a stray dog, contact the Dog Control Officer at 518-947-0963 or the Town Clerk at 518-239-6122 ext. 1 to arrange pick up or you will be held responsible for the animal.

If a dog bites you or if your dog bites any person, you are required to report the incident to the Greene County Public Health 518-719-3600 and or the Dog Control Officer at 518-947-0963.  The biting dog must be quarantined for 10 (ten) days at the owners expense.

NYS Law defines a “dangerous dog” as any dog that: 1) without justification attacks a person and causes physical injury or death, or 2) poses a serious and unjustified imminent threat of harm to one or more persons, or 3) without justification attacks a service dog, guide dog, or hearing dog and causes physical injury or death. 

You must contact the Dog Control Officer 518-965-3828 or the NYS police 518-622-8600.  The law provides that any person may make a complaint to the Dog Control Officer of a dog attack upon a person or of a dog attacking, chasing or worrying a domestic animal.  Upon receiving such a complaint, the law requires the that Dog Control Officer immediately inform the complainant of his/her right to commence a dangerous dog proceeding and, if there is a reason to believe the dog is a dangerous dog, the Dog Control Officer is required to commence such a proceeding. 

A rabid animal may exhibit unusual aggressiveness or tameness, excessive drooling, "foaming at the mouth", and dragging the hind legs, mobility problems.

You should contact Greene County Public Health at 518-719-3600.

Yes, through an open wound or by chewing on the carcass. Have your vet administer a booster shot within five days. If your pet is unvaccinated, it must be confined for four months, or euthanized. You're not always going to know what your pet has been up to while outside, so the best protection for both your pet and your family is for you to keep your pet current with its rabies shots.

NYS Ag & Markets Law ~ Article 26: 353-b requires any person who owns or has custody or control for a dog that is left outside to provided it with shelter appropriate to its breed, physical condition, and the climate.  Violations of this law are subject to penalties including fines and forfeiture of the animal.  Minimum require ments for appropriate shelter are as follows:

• Provisions must be made to provide shade from direct sunlight.
• If left outside during inclement weather a housing facility must have a waterproof roof, be structurally sound with insulation appropriate and sufficient to protect from inclement weather
• Allow for each dog adequate freedom of movement, to stand up, turn around, and lie down with limbs outstretched
• Allow for effective removal of excretions, other waste material, dirt and trash.
• The housing facility and area immediately surrounding it must be cleaned regularly.