Endicott council changes ordinance on dogs

The Endicott Town Council voted at its last meeting April 11 to amend the town's dog ordinance. The amended ordinance restricts the number of dogs to four per household. The ordinance actually upped the allowed number of dogs per residence by taking away the requirement for residences with more than two dogs to purchase a kennel license.

“It has always been limited, we just changed it,” said Town Clerk/Treasurer Laura Jones.

Jones said there used to be a number of kennels in town when breeders were prevalent, but that is not the case anymore. When the kennels were in place, households with more than two dogs were required to have kennel licenses.

“We don't really have those people anymore,” said Jones.

Jones said not many families in Endicott have more than four dogs currently.

“Most of our families at the most have two or three dogs,” she said.

She added that she knows of two families who do have more than four dogs, and those are show dogs.

“The two currently in town can keep them,” said Jones.

Jones did note, however, that additional dogs will not be allowed at those residences, and if their dogs died, they could not be replaced if the number of dogs still exceeds four. The ordinance states that anyone who had already purchased a kennel license that is current as of May 1, 2017, will be allowed to keep all dogs above four until the number is reduced by attrition to a maximum of four dogs.

“We won't be allowing anyone with more than four dogs,” said Jones.

The ordinance was voted on April 11, and it became effective April 16.