As we head in 2014, don’t forget the city requires you to license Rover or Fido.
“The renewal invoice has already been mailed out to all the known existing dog licence holders,” said Stu Fraser, the peace officer program supervisor with the City of St. Albert.
Dog owners have until Jan. 31 to renew their dog licence. If the tag has been lost throughout the year, this is also a chance to get a free replacement, the only time of year there’s no charge for a new one.
“Otherwise there’s a five dollar fee for it,” Fraser said.
A spayed or neutered canine costs $38 to licence while an unaltered dog is $71. Those costs include a $10 surcharge.
“The other thing people forget. Hidden in the dog licence invoice fee is the $10 dog-friendly park surcharge. The funding for that is continuing as we roll out the changes in the new animal control bylaw,” Fraser said.
The city’s new animal control bylaw comes into effect in September, 2014. Then, licence fees for dangerous dogs will kick in, as will 50 per cent late fees for licensing dogs after Jan. 31.
The fine for failing to license a dog will also jump when the new bylaw takes effect. Currently it’s $93 for a first offence and $185 for a second, but under the new bylaw it will be $250.
However, currently the old bylaw still applies. Fraser said there are still penalties if renewing late, but generally they wait to see what kind of response comes in and then send out a reminder.
Traditionally every five years there’s a canvas to remind people they need to license their dogs.
“This summer our summer students will go door-to-door and do canvasses of all residences in the city and see if we can drive back up registration,” Fraser said. At the same time, this year students will be able to offer some education on the upcoming bylaw changeover.
Despite the bylaw change, there’s no need to worry about re-licensing your dog when the new one takes effect. Licences are good from Jan. 31, 2014 to Jan. 31, 2015.
