Dog licensing changes on Jan. 1

Due to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets no longer collecting dog license applications, incorporated villages throughout the state will now be responsible for issuing the tags, effective Jan. 1.

In the Five Towns area, the villages of Cedarhurst and Hewlett Neck are most affected as these municipalities will still issue dog licenses. The Town of Hempstead has performed the function for nearly eight years for Lawrence, said Village Administrator David Smollet.

For Cedarhurst, that issues nearly 40 dog licenses annually, a new local regarding this changes is expected to be adopted at the board’s monthly meeting scheduled for Monday, Jan. 3, according to Village Administrator Sal Evola.

“We now take the applications and submit then to the New York State Agriculture and Markets in Albany, but the state is no longer doing this,” said Evola, who noted what money the village takes in from the licensing is “very minimal.”

Costs for dog licensing depends on whether the dog is spayed or neutered and now the village will have to incur the expenses for dogs tags, issuing the tags and tracking, Evola said

Currently, the state sends the towns and villages the applications and handed out the tags, now the towns will be taking charge of those functions. The Town of Hempstead will take over the function for villages should they request it.