Dog licenses
New York State Law requires that all dogs to be licensed annually. Dog licenses, fees and the documents you need are handled by the Town Clerk's Office. See Dog license on the Town Clerk page.
The Town of Sand Lake has a Leash Law. All dogs must be on a leash when not on their own property.
Complaints
The Animal Control Officer enforces both the State Law and the law of the local municipality. Common complaints are made by town residents about such things as animals running at large, barking excessively, destroying property and other violations.
Appearance tickets may be written for violations based on a signed complaint. No citation will be issued without a signed complaint. When the complaint is signed, the complainant can expect to go before the town judge as witness to the event(s) that precipitated the complaint. The law requires that an accused person be able to face the person who signed the complaint. Sometimes a simple warning or clarification of the law may be enough to solve a situation.
If there is an issue call Animal Control. Give your name and phone number to the Animal Control Officer and explain the problem you are having. Your options will be explained. Most often situations can be resolved with no legal action at all.
Some people make anonymous complaints. (A percentage of such calls are based on retaliation and disputes with neighbors and are unrelated to any animal related matter.) A complainant can request Animal Control try to resolve an animal related issue while remaining anonymous to the animal owner. Those who will not identify themselves, even to the Animal Control Officer, may invalidate their complaint.
If your dog is picked up by Animal Control
If there is an issue please call Animal Control.
If the dog has a valid dog license attached to his collar Animal Control will attempt to contact the owner with the information provided at the time the dog was licensed.
The law will not allow the kennel or the Animal Control Officer to return a dog to the owner without proof of a valid UP TO DATE Rabies Vaccination and New York State dog license.
There is a charge for the seizure of the dog.
You may have to appear in court if you get a ticket for your dog running at large, a violation of the law.
If you lose a dog, cat, or other pet
Give the following information:
- What municipality you live it
- A description of the animal
- Location the animal was last seen
- When the animal was lost
- The name of the owner
- All contact phone numbers
- Call Animal Control in surrounding municipalities
If you find a dog, cat or other animal
Dogs get lost but so do cats, ferrets, cows, horses, pigs, snakes, birds, rabbits etc! The owners may be looking for their pet. Any help will be appreciated. Animal Control will help whenever possible to reunite a pet with his family.
Call Animal Control immediately and give the following information:
- What municipality the animal was found in
- Give a good description of the animal
- Give your name and all your contract phone numbers
- Give address where the animal is currently
If you take in a lost animal you may be in possession of someone else's property and the owner has legal rights to that property. It's best to call Animal Control immediately.
If you see wild animals or baby animals
In spring and summer, Animal Control will receive calls about baby rabbits, deer, fawns, baby birds, fox kits and raccoon young. The basic rule of thumb is to leave them alone. Most of the time they don't need human assistance.
The parents have a schedule of care that is different than what one would expect. Deer leave their young for many hours a day while the mother feeds elsewhere. Baby rabbits, when seen, have a den nearby. Raccoons and squirrels young are left alone while parents look for food.
Do not handle wild animals. Keep domestic dogs and cats in the house when wild animals are present.
Bears with young are not to be bothered. The safe distance for bears, especially with young is far different than what would be considered safe distance by a human. When a bear is in the yard stay in the house or car and keep dogs and cats away.
If you have questions about wild animals call Sand Lake Animal Control Officer or go to the NYSDEC website to find a Wildlife Rehabilitator near you Contact Us - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation and click on injured wildlife.
Animal Control and Licensing Law
Sand Lake Municipal Code Chapter 75: Animals (eCode360)
Source: townofsandlake.us/animalcontrol and its linked pages, copied November 11, 2026.