Amsterdam enacts 'vicious dog' rules

Owners of pit bulls and other so-called "vicious dogs" will have to register their pets with the Village of Amsterdam under tough new laws passed Monday night.

Police Chief Todd Walker told NEWS9 the village council passed a third reading on the ordinance.

Under the new rules, dog owners will have until March 1 to register their dogs. The village offices will be open for registration on that day from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Dog owners must prove they are carrying $500,000 in liability insurance on their dogs.

Fines of $1000 for non-compliance will be issued each day after March 1, Walker said.

Walker and the Jefferson County dog warden will begin patrolling the village immediately looking for dogs that fall under the village's definition of "vicious," which includes any pit bull-type dog.

During those patrols, Walker will inform dog owners that they need to register by the March 1 deadline.