Westchester County and most municipalities charge higher dog license fees for unaltered dogs under New York Agriculture and Markets Law to encourage spay-neuter and reduce shelter populations.
Under NY Agriculture and Markets Law Article 7 Section 110, every municipality issuing dog licenses must charge an additional fee of at least nine dollars for unspayed or unneutered dogs. Westchester villages and cities collect these surcharges, which fund animal population control and shelters such as SPCA Westchester. Some municipalities subsidize low-cost spay-neuter clinics. There is no county-level mandatory spay-neuter law, but rescues, shelters, and adoption groups typically require alteration before adoption. Nonprofit clinics offer reduced-cost services to qualifying residents.
Failing to pay the unaltered surcharge or providing false information on dog license applications can result in fines up to 250 dollars per violation under Article 7.
See how New Rochelle's mandatory spay/neuter rules stack up against other locations.
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