By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- The Town Council is looking into the Massena Humane Society overcharging people for boarding dogs.

Massena resident Jeanne Jemmison told the board during public comment on Wednesday that she was recently charged with dog at large after her dog escaped. She said she paid the fee charged by the humane society to board the animal after it was caught, but noticed she had been overcharged $40.

She said she took the case to small claims court and won by default because the humane society didn’t show up.

She said she did some digging and found her case is not unique.

“It has come to my attention there are 52 people who have paid excesses of $1,800,” she said. “I was charged $50 per day, someone else was charged $5 per day.”

The town code outlines a flat charge per day.

She also claimed the address on the paperwork used to charge her doesn’t exist.

“It says seized at large at 168 South Raquette Road. There is no 168 South Raquette Road,” she said.

Jemmison said she didn’t dispute being charged and agrees the law is necessary.

Councilman Albert Nicola said the Humane Society contracts with the town to do dog control, so they are an independent body, but they will look into what’s going on.

“It’s a thing we can look into,” he said.

“When we sign the contract, I assume they would follow our code. Our codes are our codes, bottom line,” Councilman Tom Miller said.