Public Health & Mission Statements

The following information is from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. It may seem a little long but its meaning is concise and clear:

The following is a brief excerpt from the Board of Health proceeding archives:

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Board of Health Notice of Adoption of Amendments to Sections 161.03, 161.04 and 161.05 of The New York City Health Code

STATEMENT OF BASIS AND PURPOSE

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (the “Department”) is authorized and required by law to promote and protect the health and safety of New York City residents and visitors by ensuring an environment free from animal-borne diseases and hazards, as well as those caused by other vectors. Article 161 contains various provisions related to issues of public health concern in ownership and management of animals in the City of New York.

The Department enforces provisions of the New York City Health Code (the “Health Code”), the Administrative Code of the City of New York and the New York State Sanitary Code related to investigating reports of animal bites and rabies; managing wild, vicious and/or dangerous animals; licensing and regulating working horses and dogs, and companion dogs; and issuing animal exhibition permits. The Department inspects and issues permits for facilities where animals are sold, adopted, held, groomed, trained, boarded and sheltered. The Department monitors the City’s contract for animal care and control services, investigates animal nuisance complaints and cooperates with all government and voluntary agencies involved in the care and control of animals.

The Department enforces provisions of the New York City Health Code (the “Health Code”), the Administrative Code of the City of New York and the New York State Sanitary Code related to investigating reports of animal bites and rabies; managing wild, vicious and/or dangerous animals; licensing and regulating working horses and dogs, and companion dogs; and issuing animal exhibition permits. The Department inspects and issues permits for facilities where animals are sold, adopted, held, groomed, trained, boarded and sheltered. The Department monitors the City’s contract for animal care and control services, investigates animal nuisance complaints and cooperates with all government and voluntary agencies involved in the care and control of animals.

New York State and New York City animal control laws are intended to safeguard the health and safety of the public. In addition to having their dogs actively vaccinated against the disease of rabies, responsible dog owners must obtain a license (New York City Dog License Law, Ch. 115 of the Laws of 1894, as amended); attach a dog license tag to the dog’s collar when the animal is in a public place (see, Health Code §161.04); hold the dog on a leash no longer than six feet when the dog is in a public place (see, Health Code §161.05); and remove their dog’s feces from anypublic areas (see, Health Code §161.03 and New York Public Health Law §1310).

Licensing companion dogs is increasingly seen as an important indicator of responsible dog ownership, reducing the numbers of strays, biting incidents and homeless, unwanted animal over- population. It enables owners of stray dogs to be more easily be identified so that lost dogs may be returned to their owners. It makes it possible for the Department to identify and control biting and dangerous dogs, and to control rabies.

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The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Office of Veterinary Public Health Services

The Office of Veterinary Public Health Services' mission is to promote and protect the health of New York City residents and visitors by ensuring an environment free from animal-borne diseases, hazards and nuisances by controlling and regulating animals. VPHS's goals are to:

1. Prevent the transmission of zoonotic diseases from animals to people
2. Reduce animal nuisances

To accomplish these goals, the Program will employ the following strategies:

Education and Community Outreach

• Provide printed materials, mailings, and public seminars in collaboration with External Affairs and other Department of Health offices.
• Teach animal handling courses and the Horse Drawn Carriage Operator's Course.
Monitoring, Surveillance and Tracking
• Collect data on animal bites, rabies vaccinations and animal sheltering statistics, and other meaningful occurrences to identify trends which support animal control.
• Responding to Complaints regarding animal nuisances.

Enforcement

• Inspect facilities; issue violations; hold hearings; issue commissioner's orders to abate and/or surrender animals which pose a danger to humans; and enforce City mandates/codes for working animals.

Regulation

• Issue permits, licenses and training certificates.
• Animal Care and Control - Contract for animal care, shelter and control.
• Compendium of Measures To Prevent Disease Associated with Animals in Public Settings