P-J photo by Sara Holthouse The town of Clymer is continuing their discussion regarding updating the town’s dog laws.

CLYMER — There have been multiple conversations about the possibility of changing or adding to the town of Clymer’s dog laws by the town board.

Those talks continued during a recent meeting.

Town Supervisor Brian Willink said he recently took time to look at samples from neighboring municipalities and that theirs are not much different than what Clymer already has, which was last updated in 2011. Updating the town’s dog laws was first brought up back in the summer following a meeting between four towns — Clymer, Sherman, Mina and French Creek — who all share dog officer Kelly Thornton. Town Clerk, Wendy Trisket said the costs for spayed and neutered dogs in Clymer’s laws is five dollars and $15 for un-spayed or un-neutered, and Sherman wanted to do $10 for spay and neuter and $15 for un-spay and un-neuter. Trisket noted that there is not much of a difference there and that Sherman also wanted to incorporate a one, two or three year option for licensing.

“But, people have to be aware that if they go with the three year and their dog passes away they’re not going to get their money back,” Trisket said. “I asked Annette how it was going with the one, two and three and she said people who just get their rabies for their dogs for the three year they elect to go the three year so they only have to license their dog and get the rabies shot at the same time.”

Trisket also noted that the town does not have a leash law in the local law, which is something they will need to add, and returned to previous conversations about a noise ordinance for dogs. She said she had been called by Thornton a few times asking about having a noise ordinance put into the local laws so that she could get barking dogs taken care of, and there is no type of noise ordinance in Clymer’s laws either. Town board member Melissa Murphy noted that something like that is tricky in a farming town, as it is not just barking dogs that need to be considered. Willink said the town of Cherry Creek has a noise ordinance, and went over it briefly with the town board, as the two towns are not much different he said. The ordinance focused mainly on dogs, other animals, and engines or vehicles noted to be a disruption, and Willink questioned who the enforcer of that would be.

“If you call the sheriff and you’re call number 42 on the list and, I just don’t know if they would respond in a timely fashion and what they would do when they get there other than to tell you to knock it off,” Willink said.

The Cherry Creek law also had fees involved with the noise ordinance. It was asked if it would be possible to have something specifically for dogs in the dog law, and if they could make it the downtown or residential district only, to shield it from the more rural areas of the town. Willink added he could call the Cherry Creek supervisor and see what happens with their noise ordinance and how it works. It was also noted that there would be ways to have it to be able to knock on someone’s door and tell them they are disturbing the peace. Trisket said Thornton did get a few calls about barking dogs last year, and Willink said he would also like to talk with Thornton about what the “gaping hole” in the dog laws that she is looking to fill is. The laws also connect to the statewide Ag and Markets Law and whatever the state does with theirs the town does by default.

The town talked briefly on purebred dog licensing, which Trisket said she does not ask about when licensing and did not think it needed to be included, along with dogs on public versus private properties. The town agreed that asking Thornton what she believes is lacking in the laws is the first step and then they can craft something around that.

“I’m all about supporting her because she has a really thankless job trying to keep everyone in line,” Willink said. “We’ll continue to work with Kelly and come up with a law that makes sense for everyone involved. We certainly want to support her, I don’t want her to get frustrated with our laws or anybody’s laws and think that we don’t care. We do, it’s just a matter of trying to get something that fits who we are and the community that we’re in.”