Nissequogue plans to expand law on regulating pets

The Village of Nissequogue plans to expand its local law on regulating pets to include animals such as pigs, horses, goats and rabbits.

The village's board of trustees will hold a public hearing Tuesday at 7 p.m. on the proposed change, at Village Hall, 631 Moriches Rd., St. James, officials said.

The current village code focuses on dogs, and requirements that owners collar and tag their dogs, secure them on a leash off their property and prevent their pet from attacking or harming people on private or public property.

Richard Smith, village mayor, said most of the homes in the village are on 2-acre lots that allow ample room for larger pets. "Some people have horses and occasionally the horses get out, and they're not under their owner's control," he said.

Smith said the purpose of the amendment is to expand the local law concerning owners' responsibility of controlling their pets if they're off their property to include animals such as goats, donkeys, sheep and others.

"We had one or two instances, repetitive instances this past year with one or two families that had horses that were always wandering, and going on other people's property, and eating flower patches," he said, adding that the amendment will provide a means for enforcement officers to carry out their jobs.

A copy of the amendment provided to Newsday shows that potential penalties for those convicted of violating the law include a fine not exceeding $250 or imprisonment for a term not to exceed 15 days, or both.

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