Cheektowaga police outline state‑driven kennel and impound changes; board hears proposed fee increases and foster‑dog registration concerns

The town’s chief of police briefed the Town Board on anticipated changes to local impoundment operations tied to an amendment to New York’s Agriculture & Markets Law set to take effect Dec. 15. The chief (introduced in the transcript as Brian *****), joined by Lieutenant Brian Waslowski, said the state changes require earlier evaluations after intake (within two hours), enhanced emergency care and treatments when needed, increased enrichment time for kenneled dogs, additional quarantine space and stricter recordkeeping — all of which raise the town’s operating costs.

To offset added expenses, staff proposed revisions to the town’s local fee schedule. The proposal presented in the meeting would raise the first impound fee for unlicensed dogs to $50, the second to $75, the third to $100, and charge $20 for each additional 24‑hour hold. Staff also noted a new $150 annual kennel license that the state requires and spoke about required training, sanitation and intake changes.

Council members asked practical questions: whether half‑town/half‑Lancaster pickups would follow the same fee schedule (staff said yes), whether licensed dogs follow the same escalation schedule (yes), and whether an unlicensed dog could be licensed at intake (staff said licensing at intake is part of the intake process). Public commenter Gary Bork urged the board to require foster‑dog registration (a modest one‑time fee was suggested) so the pound and staff know when dogs are in the community as fosters; staff said intake checks generally capture necessary information.

The public hearing was closed and the board will consider a formal local amendment and fee schedule in a subsequent session.