Guidance for responsible dog ownership in urban environments

The City of Ithaca and Tompkins County Whole Health are asking all dog owners to follow responsible dog ownership guidance to ensure the health and safety of animals and people.

Urban environments like downtown Ithaca are more densely populated and often have less green space than other neighborhoods and rural areas. When animals and people live more densely with one another, it is important to consider your responsibilities for owning and caring for an animal in an urban environment.

Health and Safety Tips for Pets in the City:

• Bag Your Pet’s Waste and Throw Away in Trash
  1. Animal feces can carry disease and parasites – bagging and throwing away pet waste right away can stop diseases from spreading and keep other dogs safe.
  2. Bags for waste collection are available for free in locations on the Commons, outside City Hall, in Stewart and Cass Park, and in several private green spaces around the city. Trash bins are also located in multiple locations throughout the City.
• Keep Your Pet Close to You on a Leash
  1. Leashes help to keep your pet from chasing, leaping on, or harming people or other animals. Consider using a harness as well as a short leash that gives you better control and keeps your animal close. 
• Give Your Pet Time in Green Space
  1. Bring your dog outside for exercise and fresh air as much as possible. It is recommended to do so at least three times a day.
  2. Find grassy areas for your dog to use. Consider walking to a park or other green space near where you live. There is a dog park located at 805 Taughannock Blvd (Cass Park/Treman Marina area). 
• Train Your Animal to Follow Commands
  1. Teaching simple commands like: “sit, stay, heel, leave it, and come” can keep your dog safer and close to you. 
  2. Watch this video for simple tips on training your dog (old dogs can learn new tricks!) https://tinyurl.com/ithacadogs 
• Respect Service Animals Supporting People with Disabilities
  1. Respect the service animal handler’s instructions. Speak to the handler, not the animal. 
  2. Give service animals space, avoid blocking their path or distracting them, and ask before petting. 
  3. Keep your dog close and under control when near a service animal. 

To maintain a safe environment for people and pets, the City of Ithaca enforces several codes related to dogs and other animals. Non-compliance with City Code related to pet ownership may result in ticketing and fines. Tompkins County Animal Control and the Ithaca Police Department conduct enforcement on behalf of the City.

• Dog licenses are required for all dogs and must be renewed annually (https://ithacacityny.portal.opengov.com/categories/1086)
• Dogs must be leashed while in public spaces
• Dogs may not chase, leap on, or otherwise harm other people or animals (owners can be held responsible for injuries caused by their dogs)
• Barking should not cause disruptions beyond your property line
• “Pooper Scooper” law requires dog owners to bag and throw away dog feces
• In New York, all dogs must be vaccinated against rabies by the time they are four months old. A second vaccination is required within one year of the first dose, with booster shots needed annually or every three years, depending on the vaccine used.  

The City of Ithaca will begin distributing information cards to dog owners to inform people about ordinances and health and safety tips. These cards reiterate that non-compliance is subject to fines.

Additional guidance and resources for dog owners in Tompkins County:

• Free / Low-Cost Vaccinations, Spay/Neuter, and/or Wellness Exams are available:
  1. The SPCA: 607-257-1822
  2. Cornell Healthy Pet Clinic: 607-873-2612
     • Southside Community Center hosts free wellness clinics in partnership with Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine.
  3. Street Dog Coalition: 970-829-8789
  4. Tompkins County Whole Health (rabies vaccine only): 607-274-6688
  5. Other local veterinary clinics include those listed by Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine.

City of Ithaca Deputy City Manager Dominick Recckio stated, “Ithaca is a dog friendly city. Our goal reiterating this guidance is to ensure that we keep dogs and people safe. As our urban environments become denser, dog owners have an added responsibility to our neighbors and other pets – please pick up after your pet, get outside in green space a few times a day, and train your pet to follow simple commands. There’s no bark about it; when each of us takes care of our pets the best we can, the entire community becomes safer and healthier for them.”

City of Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo stated, “Our pets provide us emotional support and companionship; so it is important that we do what we can to keep them healthy and safe. The City of Ithaca appreciates dog owners following this guidance, being good neighbors, and using the resources we have available in the community to properly care for our pets. We can all help our best friends be their best selves, and have a cleaner, safer community.”

Tompkins County Whole Health Director of Health Promotion Samantha Hillson stated, “Tompkins County Whole Health is committed to reducing the risk of severe health outcomes. Rabies is a deadly virus that can be prevented through vaccination. Our Rabies Program provides free rabies vaccination for dogs, cats and ferrets at clinics held throughout the year. Our Environmental Health division staff field calls about dog bites to humans and can provide resources and guidance on other topics such as wild animal encounters and bats in the home. They can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 607-274-6688, if you need assistance.”