ARKWRIGHT — The Town Board is taking steps to protect quality of life for the majority of its residents following complaints of a select few who do not have common courtesy for their neighbors.

“Arkwright has been in existence for over 200 years, and now we have to create laws because people have lost respect for one another. That’s the sad reality,” Town of Arkwright Supervisor Brian McAvoy said.

After a brief public hearing with no public comment, the Arkwright Town Board adopted a Nuisance Dog Law at its latest meeting. The local law provides the Town’s Dog Control Officer and Law Enforcement a mechanism to deal with troublesome dogs.

The law is not a leash law or a law to deal with vicious animals posing immediate danger. Instead, it is a law to apply to “in-between” offenders that are troublesome, either harassing or destroying property as a pattern of behavior and have at least a perceived owner.

Residents bothered by roaming dogs can file a complaint aimed at encouraging the owner to keep the dog at home or face legal consequences. The consequences escalate from a warning to a fine to eventual seizure of the dog if corrective actions are not taken.

Residents are reminded to call 911 immediately if a dog is vicious, and it will be dealt with under New York State Agriculture and Market Law. A stray dog will be picked up by the Dog Control Officer if one is reported.

When the law was first proposed, McAvoy said, “We’ll get a law on the books that tries to encourage people to be responsible; understand that if you are constantly irresponsible, there are consequences; and ensure that neighbors’ quality of life isn’t destroyed by somebody’s dog.”

The Town Board also reviewed a Late Night Excessive Noise Law, proposed to be adopted in January. McAvoy commented on how the two laws are similar in nature, and reiterated that neither law would be necessary “if people would just show a reasonable amount of respect for the quality of life of their neighbors.”

Ideally, both local laws would serve as a deterrent to poor behavior. McAvoy said the Town “has no interest in criminalizing residents, nor in seizing dogs, but needs to do what it can to ensure quality of life for all residents.”

The Town Board will hold its 2026 Organizational Meeting on Jan. 5 at 6:30 p.m. The regular meeting of the Board, and a public hearing on the Noise Ordinance, will be at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 12.