The town of Busti has adopted new laws concerning dog impoundment and the feral cat population.

The town has two different sets of laws when it comes to dog impoundment and fees, one that is in accordance with state requirements and the other is put together by coordinating with the Chautauqua County Humane Society. The contract with the Humane Society is the one that has been changed due to the Humane Society’s capabilities of taking in stray dogs reaching maximum capability a few months ago.

The main difference is the fee.

“The law has changed the initial fee,” Town Clerk Darlene Nygren said. “There are two different laws, one following state requirements and the other in coordination with the Humane Society. The main changes are the $40 fee for each dog, and $20 per day that the dog is being held.”

Local law No. 6, titled “Revising The Fees Charges For The Impoundment Of Dogs” was adopted by the town board in October. The law officially states the following:

“If the dog is to be redeemed after having been impounded pursuant to state law, rule or regulation or Town law or ordinance, the owner shall pay the Dog Control Officer a $40.00 fee for the care of the dog while impounded plus an impoundment fee, as follows: (a) Not less than ten dollars for the first impoundment of any dog owned by that person; (b) Not less than twenty dollars for the first twenty-four hours or part thereof and ten dollars for each additional twenty-four hours or part thereof for the second impoundment, within one year of the first impoundment, of any dog owned by that person; or (c) Not less than thirty dollars for the first twenty-four hours or part thereof and ten dollars for each additional twenty-four hours or part thereof for the third and subsequent impoundments, within one year of the first impoundment, of any dog owned by that person.”

The other law that the town of Busti is working on has a focus regarding the town’s stray cat population.

The cat ordinance law is the next step toward working with Little Angels Animal Sanctuary to draw up a contract to help control the population.

“The car ordinance law was just passed by the town board,” Nygren said. “It allows us to work with the need to control the amount of feral cats that appear in our area.”

The cat ordinance law allows the town to begin a trap-neuter-vaccinate-return system to reduce and control the population, which has become a problem. This system will also reduce potential disease concerns and is also working to improve quality of life for both the cats and the residents in the town.

“The town of Busti endorses (trap-neuter-vaccinate-return) policies as the model to stabilize and/or reduce existing feral and community cat populations, which would address potential disease concerns and increase the quality of life for both the citizens of Busti as well as the feral and community cat populations,” the law says. “Recent research shows that when TNVR is not possible, leaving the feral and community cat population undisturbed provides the best alternative. Approval for an effective TNVR program with the alternative of leaving the feral and community cat population undisturbed when TNVR is not possible is desirable; and … It is in the best interests of the Town of Busti to protect the health, safety, and welfare of feral and community cats as well as Busti residents by setting the following standards for management of feral and community cats.”