In 2009, the Humane Society assumed management of the existing dog shelter. Since that time the Humane Society has provided the towns of Schuyler County with the stray dog sheltering services which the towns are required to provide under Article 7 of the New York State Ag and Markets Law. The Humane Society also provides sheltering services for dogs that are seized by the Schuyler County Sheriff’s office for cases of hoarding, neglect and animal cruelty under NYS Ag and Markets law Article 26 and owner surrendered pets.
The Humane Society has not increased fees to the towns since 2009. Going into contract discussions for 2019 the Humane Society proposed increases which were rejected by the towns. However, in the spirit of providing care for the animals and the betterment of the community, the Humane Society agreed to the existing terms at that time. However, since 2009 costs have risen dramatically. Minimum wage alone has increased from $7.25 an hour in 2009 to $15.50 in January of 2025. The cost of utilities has increased as have other costs of care for dogs housed until they are either redeemed by their owners or placed for adoption. These costs were simply not being covered by the existing contracts. The primary source of revenue from each town has been 70% of the dog licensing fees collected by the towns which have steadily declined. This has resulted in a financial deficit which Humane Society has been funding for several years.
To arrive at a proposed fee for the towns, the costs associated with dogs brought in as strays were separated from dogs and cats admitted to the shelter under other circumstances and other costs not related to animal care. The costs presented to the towns reflected care for those dogs for whom the towns are responsible under article 7 of NYS Ag and Markets Law. The proposed fees were allocated based on the average number of dogs housed from each town over the recent four-and-a-half-year period.
In June we requested a meeting to present a new proposed contract structure and fee schedule to the towns at the Council of Governments meeting. Several meetings were held from June through November. The Humane Society proposed a subsidy to the towns that would have reduced the burden, but the towns chose to pursue an alternative supplier.
The Humane Society proposed a flat yearly fee for each town, with the towns retaining their dog licensing fees collected during the year. For 2025 the proposed cost to each town is listed, along with the anticipated 2025 license revenues. The anticipated net cost is the Humane Society Fee minus the anticipated 2025 license revenue, based on 2023 actual figures.
| Town | Proposed 2025 Humane Society Fee | Anticipated 2025 License Revenue | Anticipated Net 2025 Cost to Town |
| Catherine | $5,989 | $2,164 | $3,825 |
| Cayuta | $3,214 | $242 | $2,972 |
| Dix | $11,248 | $2,578 | $8,670 |
| Hector | $8,619 | $3,568 | $5,051 |
| Montour | $11,686 | $2,430 | $9,256 |
| Orange | $3,944 | $1,284 | $2,660 |
| Reading | $11,778 | $2,242 | $9,536 |
| Tyrone | $8,619 | $753 | $7,866 |
The proposed flat fee was intended to enable the towns to set an accurate budget figure for the year, regardless of the number of strays they may be responsible for in any given year. The towns are able to offset a portion of the cost by ensuring that more dogs are licensed, increasing licensing fees and/or charging a surcharge for unlicensed dogs.
The shared services agreement which has been in place for 15 years with the county, the towns, the Sheriff’s Department and the Humane Society has served the residents of Schuyler County well, providing complete coverage of animal welfare issues 24×7.
It is unfortunate that these discussions have not resulted in a workable agreement. The Humane Society remains committed to resolving these issues in the future and to providing other vital services to our community. These include shelter and adoption services for owner surrendered pets, victims of animal cruelty, neglect or abandonment, low-cost spay/neuter services, a pet pantry, and a commitment to expansion of educational and community outreach programs. It has been an honor to serve the hundreds of stray dogs who have crossed our doors over the past 15 years.
The Humane Society of Schuyler County will continue to provide sheltering services for the town of Van Etten.