Amnesty over; pets need licences
City's zero-tolerance policy in effect with fines in place for non-compliance
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/09/2016 (2736 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Starting today, if you don’t have a licence for your dogs and cats, it could cost you $250 and possibly a whole lot more.
A five-week-long amnesty period for owners of unlicensed pets is over, and the city’s zero-tolerance policy goes back into effect.
The policy, which has been in the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw since 2011, requires owners to license dogs and cats — even designated indoor felines — older than six months.
If an unlicensed animal is impounded by animal services officers, the owner will have to pay those fees ($56 to $253), along with boarding fees ($28 per day) in addition to the fine and the cost of a licence to take their pet home.
“This policy will be enforced through the regular course of duties of animal services officers,” the city said in a statement Friday. “If animal services officers make contact with a pet owner with an unlicensed pet, they will be subject to a $250 fine. Animal services officers will also follow up on reports of suspected unlicensed pets received through 311.”
The city said it ran a comprehensive advertising campaign over the past few months in newspapers, online and on the streets with Winnipeg Transit vehicles to get the word out.
Impounded unlicensed animals not claimed after three days will be put up for adoption or sent to a rescue for adoption.
The city’s bylaw states pets must wear licence tags. Cats not able to wear collars can be excepted provided the animal has a tattoo or an embedded microchip registered with animal services.
“Animal services officers operate both at dog parks and in our communities, and when making contact with pet owners, they will verify compliance with pet licensing,” the city said.
Some volunteers on the front lines of animal rescues applaud the city’s efforts to get owners to take responsibility for their pets.
“They’ve had plenty of time to prepare for this, and there’s no excuse to not have a dog licensed and fixed,” said Katie Powell of Save a Dog Network Canada, referring to spaying and neutering to reduce the number of unwanted animals.
“People should be saving the money so the appropriate actions are taken to protect those animals.”
It costs $36 to license a spayed or neutered dog and $71 if they are intact. Cat licences are $15 but jump to $50 if the animal hasn’t been spayed or neutered.
D’Arcy Johnston of D’Arcy’s A.R.C. said he supports pet registration but said the city should make it more affordable.
“Our shelter deals with homeless animals — 98 per cent of the animals that come through here don’t have any identification… something that identifies who owns this pet, I’m all for,” Johnston said. “I just find the whole process of licensing your animal is extremely difficult and cumbersome now. Now you can’t even find a convenient place to pay your licence, they’re all city (locations), Monday to Friday, 9 to 5; who can get there? People work. They’re trying to push 311 and renewing online, but not everybody has credit cards.”
Previously, licences could be purchased from veterinarians and animal rescues, but the city has limited sales to its website, calling 311, mail and four in-person locations: the Animal Services Agency at 1057 Logan Ave., the Bilingual Service Centre at 170 Goulet St., the Community By-law Enforcement Services Division at 18-30 Fort St. and the 311 customer service counter at 510 Main St.
Jessica Hansen, the Manitoba Underdogs Rescue executive director, agrees with Johnston.
“If the city is going to take such a hard stance on licensing, they need to provide more reminders for responsible pet owners who want to comply and easier payment options for those who may have a hard time affording the fee,” she said.
The city said renewal notices are sent out to addresses the agency has on file in the month before a licence expires. But the city says it’s the owner’s responsibility to keep the licence current; claiming you didn’t receive a renewal notice doesn’t get you off the hook.
Licensing revenue is expected to help fund pet services, including housing and care for lost animals, reuniting them with their owners, attending house fires, car accidents and police incidents to help in the removal and care of animals, operation of a pet adoption program, supporting low-cost community spay-and-neuter programs and educating the public about responsible pet ownership.
Non-residents visiting with unlicensed dogs or cats are not subject to the policy.
However, they must be able to provide proof of where they live and be able prove they own the animal.
ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca
History
Updated on Saturday, October 1, 2016 9:31 AM CDT: Updated.