Cochecton approves new kennel law

By TOM KANE

LAKE HUNTINGTON — The Cochecton Town Board took the matter by the tail and, after a public hearing, passed a new kennel law at its meeting on May 8.

The board also passed a new dog leash law and an exotic animal law.

The exotic animal law forbids the keeping of fierce animals such as tigers and cougars.

For the last few years, the board has been inundated by complaints about two animal shelters on the same road, one owned by Gloria Smith and the other by the Lazarian Society.

The town never had a kennel law before.

Attempts by the town’s code enforcement officer to cite Smith for zoning irregularities over the construction of structures housing her dogs have been thwarted, partly because there was not clear law.

“We’ve established norms for the number of animals that can be kept per acre and have established set-back regulations,” said town supervisor Sal Indelicato.

The law allows a five-year period for the existing kennel to abide by the provisions of the law, he said.

In other town matters, Indelicato said that the town’s recent Litterpluck Day yielded 125 bags of refuse.