City council approved a dog licence amnesty program to be followed by an enforcement program, which will send bylaw officers door to door, giving out $250 tickets to anyone with unlicensed dogs, Jan. 16.
Darryl Poburan, manager of municipal enforcement, RCMP and building inspections, said although it is hard to determine how many dogs are licensed within a community, only about 10 to 20 per cent are usually licensed in a city the size of Airdrie. In 2011, municipal enforcement approved 5,557 dog licences compared to 4,254 in 2010 and 4,095 in 2009.
“The program will bring awareness to residents of the importance of having a dog licensed and not allowing dogs to run at large,” said Poburan.
“Dog owners will be reunited with their pets when dogs stray from yards. The cost of the animal enforcement program is not currently being covered by user fees and with the implementation of this program, cost will be closer to being cost neutral.”
Dog licence fees are $50 for dogs that are not spayed or neutered and $30 for a fixed dog. The revenue collected from dog licences in 2011 was $180,368. In 2011, 77 tickets for unlicensed dogs were handed out, collecting $15,775 in fines.
Under the new program, the amnesty period would be the month of May. It is estimated, during that month, that the number of licensed dogs will increase to between 6,580 and 7,520 in 2012. During May, officers will knock on doors of homes where there are dogs or evidence of dogs to provide the resident with information regarding the dog licence amnesty program.
Dog owners will not be fined if the dog is not licensed.
“I am a firm believer in educating people,” said Alderman Glenda Alexander.
“The general public thinks these fees and licensing is a money grab but if we want an off-leash park in Airdrie, how do you think we are going to pay for it? I am very much in favour of this.”
She said she had an experience years ago when her dog ran away and was returned by municipal enforcement because it was licensed.
In June, officers will be making the rounds again and if an unlicensed dog is found, the owner will be fined $250 and will be required to obtain a dog licence.
“It is a harder approach, to make the program work,” said Poburan. “If you follow along and don’t break the law, you won’t be fined.”
The estimated revenue intake for fines and dog licences in 2012 is $84,420, a $15,000 to $20,000 increase in fine revenue.
