dog licenses

[katy_harvey]

I was bored and started researching dog licenses, I had no idea it was mandatory in Canada and places in the US to have a dog license, and in Ireland & Northeen ireland you have to pay £12 (theres not a euro sign on my keyboard = fail) each year for a license! I bet that puts people off getting a dog! And I read somewhere in the US you have to have a cat license! MADNESS! Haha

[Brandon M]

It does help keep people responsible though. The dogs are registered with Animal Control so that they know who to fine when they let their dog roam around, unaltered especially. And it's a good way to find the owners if you come across a dog that has nothing but its license tag. The owners info is all on record with Animal Control.

[MustLuvDogs]

I'm sure it's followed to the letter in some places. Around here, I think most people just see it as one more tax and I highly doubt very many dogs are licensed (I see loose dogs from time to time.. can't remember seeing more than a few wearing actual dog license tags. Usually it's a name tag and rabies).

Obviously that depends on your area, though. We are pretty rural.

[izzysmom]

Yep, we're supposed to license both dogs and cats here in Ottawa. I'd make a guess though, that probably around 70% or so of dogs aren't licensed, and it's probably very close to 100% of cats that aren't either. We also have relatively tough restrictions on the number and type of animals that are allowed per home. For instance, no one is allowed to keep chickens, even though it was petitioned a few years ago by citizens arguing that with the economy the way it was, being able to raise chickens might help. Even owning rabbits is a 'barely squeaks by' the rules, because they were considering changing rabbits to fall under 'livestock' at one point.

In Ottawa the max. number of pets you can own is 5; max. 3 dogs, or 5 cats, or a combo of the two so long as dogs don't go over 3. There was a really sad case here several years ago where an elderly man had 4 little shih tzus. He had no family other than his dogs, and the dogs had been his only companions for several years. They were, in effect, his family. Then one day a neighbour spotted them and complained, and the city became involved and forced the man to have to give away one of his beloved dogs. Still angers me to this day thinking about that.

[LadyDaniela]

All three of ours are licensed although due to restrictions, the boys are 'mine' at this house and Freckles is 'his' at the main ranch house. They know how much land we have and that 6 acres of it is completely fenced but they still say since we are within city limits we are only allowed two dogs/3 cats.

(rant on) It is law in this county however I'd say a good 80% of dogs aren't licensed. Most people around here don't even know it's a requirement. It is a money maker for Animal control IMO. It also allows for AC to require someone to alter their animal if the animal is caught roaming for a fifth time.

Lots of people vilify animal control and I agree that there are a good share of crappy animal control officers. All (but one) ACO's that I worked with really loved animals and wanted to get them off the streets and back to their homes. That is generally speaking, some were eager to get said animal AWAY from terrible homes too. It takes a tremendous amount of money/resources to maintain animal control and they get squat from the public/county/state/etc. (at least here) to recoup losses. Those people put up with a lot of drama, my hats off to them. (rant off)

[Arizahn]

Actually, the licence fee is £12.50, less for spayed/neutered animals and those owners on benefits/low income. There are also reductions for pensioners and block licences (three or more).

Microchipping becomes mandatory in April. I am furious about this, since Loki is terrified of basic needles, never mind big ones! Also how do they plan on enforcing it? By only goving licences to those whose dogs are microchipped! And why test the mandatory chipping scheme here? Why is Northern Ireland used to test everything? We weren't given the option to vote on this, by the way! It's facism towards dog owners, and the irresponsible ones don't licence their dogs anyway, so it will be useless.

[Lynnington]

I'm not sure about NI but the Republic's dog license fee just went up from 12.50 Euro to 20 Euro for a license that only lasts a YEAR. Ridiculous price I think.

[only-borders]

I am one of the law breakers. Since we have moved here I have not had license for the girls. Not that I haven't tried, but because I finally gave up.

Small town USA is not open for dog license daily, weekly or even monthly. You can get your dog license twice a year. I tried 3 times when they said they would be open and they were closed all 3 times.
My rule is 3 strikes, so now the girls are not licensed in this town or county.

I'm sure "if" we get checked it will be my fault for not having them licensed, but until then too bad. I really feel like a rebel admitting this.

[wolftexas]

Here in Texas we are required to have a license for dogs and cats. It coincides with the rabies vaccine. You go to the vet here and get the rabies vaccine and they also tack on the $4 charge for city or county license (depending where you live) It may be more or less expensive in other counties or cities. Dogs are required to wear their rabies/license tag at all times. In the county I live in if I am outside the city limits my dog can run loose if they are wearing their tag. Cats are not required to wear the license tag. They are kind of bulky so cats tend to get them stuck in things. Also if an animal is picked up by animal control they are only held for 3 days before being euthanized UNLESS it is wearing a current license tag then it will be held for 10 days.

All that said the majority of people here do not get vaccines or licenses for their animals.

[Arizahn]

I am pretty close to not renewing my licences this year.
We don't have rabies in this country, so no need for rabies tags. And only the law abiding owners bother with collars and tags anyway! So the people who cause the problems are untraceable...

Also, I have lost count of the dogs in shelters that are microchipped but that the shelters can't locate the owners of! The system doesn't work! It's just another way to make money - Northern Ireland uses sterling, not euros, so £12.50 works out around €20 I think.

Aaaggghhhh!

[katy_harvey]

Goodness me another expense to pay! Quite glad we don't have dog licenses here, I think it was ruled out back in the 80s cause no one bothered with it. But I do agree if it were monitored correctly it would be good in the long run!

I have Harvey microchipped he didn't flinch when he got it though, so it can't be that bad! But as you say Arizahn if your dog is scared of them its a bit unfair to make it mandatory!

I think cat licenses are a bit odd though don't you think? Haha! And to only be allowed a certain number of animals :O when I move out I'm probs gunna be the crazy cat lady, but with dogs aswell haha kidding

[katy_harvey]

Also... I don't think we have a sort of animal control here? Just the SSPCA (or RSPCA if you're england, wales and NI) and I guess the police get involved every now and then to...? Unless I am totally oblivious to UK animal control haah

[Arizahn]

We do. They are called the dog warden. They work for the environmental health part of the council.

The USPCA...if it's still breathing, they don't care

[katy_harvey]

How horrible! The SSPCA here is very good I worked there for a while when I was 15 was great fun, they really cared for the animals

[Arizahn]

It's good that they care. I've heard the SSPCA are way better than the USPCA.