Animal Control Officer  is an appointed position in the Town of Jay.

Make sure your dogs are licensed and have their required shots as well as tag with your phone number. 

Dog Licenses 
Due April 1st Annually
$9.00 for Spayed or Neutered registered by April 1, 2024
$13.50 for Spayed or Neutered registered after April 1, 2024
$13.00 for animals NOT Spayed or Neutered registered by April 1, 2024
$19.50 for animals NOT Spayed or Neutered registered after April 1, 2024
$30.00 Special License
$10.00 Kennel Permits

Licenses require proof of Rabies Shot.

 NEED HELP TO SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR DOG OR CAT?

If you need financial assistance to spay or neuter your pet, call the Northeast Kingdom Spay-Neuter Program at 754-2309. Help make our community a place where all dogs and cats live in loving homes.

Town of Jay 

ORDINANCE REGULATING THE KEEPING AND CONTROL OF DOGS WITHIN THE TOWN OF JAY, VERMONT 
As of September 20, 2015

Section 1. Authority- This ordinance is adopted by the selectboard of the Town of Jay under authority of 20 V.S.A. § 3549, 24 V.S.A. § 2291 (10) and 2291 (14&15), and 24 V.S.A. Chapter 59. 

Section 2. Purpose- It is the purpose of this ordinance to regulate the keeping of dogs, and wolf hybrids, to protect public health and safety and to protect the resident’s quiet enjoyment of their homes and properties. 

Section 3. Definitions- For purposes of this ordinance, the following words and/or phrases shall apply: 

B. “Wolf hybrid” means:

            1.  An animal that is the progeny of a dog and wolf

            2.  An animal that is advertised or otherwise described or represented to be a wolf hybrid; or

            3.  An animal that exhibits primary physical and/or behavioral wolf characteristics. 

C. “Owner” means any person who has actual or constructive possession of a dog or wolf hybrid.  The term also includes those persons who provide food and shelter to a dog or wolf hybrid. 

D. “Running at large” means that a dog or wolf hybrid is not:

            1.  on a leash

            2.  in a vehicle

            3.  on the owner’s property

            4.  on the property of another person with that person’s permission

            5.  clearly under the verbal or non-verbal control of the owner; or

            6.  hunting with the owner 

E. “Vicious dog or wolf hybrid” means a dog or wolf hybrid that attacks any person or causes any person to reasonably fear attack or bodily injury from such animal, unless the person is trespassing on the property of the owner of the animal.  The term shall also mean any animal that, while running at large, attacks another domestic pet or domestic animal, as defined in 20 V.S.A. § 3541. 

Section 4.  Disturbances and Nuisances 

1. No dog or wolf hybrid shall run at large in town
2. No dog or wolf hybrid shall harass or attack other animals or people unless such animals or people are trespassing on the private property of the owner of the dog or wolf hybrid.
3. A female dog or wolf hybrid in heat shall be confined to a building or other secured enclosure, except while under the direct control of the owner.
4. No person shall own, keep or harbor a dog or wolf hybrid that disturbs the peace and quiet, comfort and repose of others by frequent, habitual or persistent barking, howling, or biting by any means. 

Section 5.  Fecal Matter the person in control of a dog or wolf hybrid that defecates in any public area shall immediately remove the fecal material and dispose of it in a sanitary manner. 

Section 6.  Collar and License 

1. Each dog and or wolf hybrid shall be licensed according to the laws of this state and shall wear a collar or harness with the current license attached.  An animal that is visiting from out of state must wear a collar or harness with a current license from its home state attached.
2. A dog or wolf hybrid that is found without a collar or harness and license shall be immediately impounded under authority of 20 V.S.A. § 3806 and shall be managed under the provisions of that statute. 

Section 7.  Human Care of Dogs and Wolf Hybrids all dogs and wolf hybrids shall be furnished with clean and safe facilities sufficient to protect the animal and the public health.  Any dog or wolf hybrid determined by the constable/animal control officer to be without such clean and safe facilities may be impounded. 

Section 8.  Enforcement this is a civil ordinance and shall be enforced by the constable/animal control officer and or legislative body in the Vermont Judicial Bureau in accordance with 24 V.S.A. § 1974a et seq. 

Section 9.  Impoundment 

1. Any dog or wolf hybrid that is determined by a constable/animal control officer or legislative body to be a vicious dog or wolf hybrid which presents an imminent danger to people or other animals shall be immediately impounded and maybe euthanize if deemed appropriate.
2. Any dog or wolf hybrid that is apprehended for a third or subsequent violation of any provision of this ordinance shall be impounded. 

Section 10.  Notice of Impoundment and Release from Impoundment 

1. The officer who impounds a dog or wolf hybrid shall, within 24 hours, give notice to the owner thereof, either personally, by telephone call, or by written notice at the owner’s dwelling.  Such notice shall inform the owner of the nature of the violations, the location of the animal and the steps that are necessary to have the animal returned to the owner.
2. If an impounded dog or wolf hybrid has no license or other identification, the person who impounds it shall proceed under the provisions of 20 V.S.A. § 3806.
3. Impounded animals shall be released to the owner only after payment of all penalties and impoundment fees and after remedial action by the owner.  Remedial action shall include but is not limited to such actions as providing a collar and records the dog or wolf hybrid has been properly inoculated against rabies and licensed in accordance with this ordinance and with state law.
4. In the event a dog or wolf hybrid impounded pursuant to the provisions of this ordinance is not reclaimed by an owner within 3 days of its impoundment, the dog or wolf hybrid shall be deemed to have been abandoned and may be disposed of to a human animal shelter in accordance with the provisions of Title 20, Section 3513 of The Vermont Statutes Annotated and or Title 20, Chapter 193, subchapter 5 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated. 

Section 11.  Investigation of Vicious Dogs or Wolf Hybrids 

1. When a domestic pet or wolf-hybrid has bitten a person while the domestic pet or wolf-hybrid is off the premises of the owner or keeper, and the person bitten requires medical attention for the attack, such person may file a written complaint with the legislative body of the municipality.  The complaint shall contain the time, date and place where the attack occurred, the name and address of the victim or victims, and any other facts that may assist the legislative body in conducting its investigation.
2. The legislative body, within seven days from receipt of the complaint, shall investigate the charges and hold a hearing on the matter.  If the owner of the domestic pet or wolf-hybrid which is subject of the complaint can be ascertained with due diligence, said owner shall be provided with a written notice of the time, date and place of hearing and the facts of the complaint.
3. If the domestic pet or wolf-hybrid is found to have bitten the victim without provocation, the municipal officials shall make such order for the protection of persons as the facts and circumstances of the case may require, including, without limitation, that the domestic pet or wolf-hybrid is disposed of in a humane way, muzzled, chained, or confined.  The order shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.  A person who, after receiving notice, fails to comply with terms of the order shall be subject to the penalties provided in 20 V.S.A. § 3550.
4. The procedures provided in this section shall only apply if the domestic pet or wolf-hybrid is not a rabies suspect.  If a member of the legislative body or a municipal official designated by the legislative body determines that the animal is a rabies suspect, the provisions of Subchapter 5 of Title 20 Chapter 193 and the rules of the department of health shall apply. 

Section 12.  Penalties and Costs 

1. First Offense               Written Warning
2. Second Offense          $25.00 full penalty/$15.00 waiver penalty *
3. Third Offense              Impoundment & impoundment costs, plus $50.00 full                                                    penalty/ $35.00 waiver penalty *
4. Subsequent Offenses  Impoundment & impoundment costs, plus $100.00 full                                                  penalty            / $75.00 waiver penalty *
5. Impoundment costs shall be set annually by the selectboard. 

*The waiver penalty applies when an alleged violator pays the fine without contesting the violation. 

Section 13.  Other Laws this ordinance is in addition to all other Ordinances of the Town of Jay and all applicable laws of the State of Vermont. 

Section 14.  Severability if any section of this ordinance is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such finding shall not invalidate any other part of this ordinance. 

Section 15.  Effective Date this ordinance shall become effective 60 days after its adoption by the Jay selectboard.  If a petition is filed under 24 V.S.A. § 1973, that statute shall govern the taking effect of this ordinance. 

/s/                                      

Margaret (Peggy) Loux 

/s/                                                                                                   ___9/15/14____

David Sanders                                                                                          Date

Adoption History 

1. Agenda item at regular selectboard meeting held on July 21, 2014
2. Read and approved at regular select board meeting on September 15, 2014 and entered in the minutes of that meeting which were approved on October 20, 2014
3. Posted in public places on Tuesday, September 16, 2014
4. Notice of adoption published in the Newport Daily Express newspaper on September 22, 2014 with a notice of the right to petition.
5. Other actions 
   

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