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Read comments (9)Le Mars city council members Tuesday got their first look Tuesday at an initial draft for a proposed dog licensing ordinance for the city.
Councilman Ken Nelson who, with fellow council person Delana Ihrke has been working the ordinance proposal, said he expects the council to have a finalized version of the proposal ready in the near future.
The licensing requirement proposal presented Tuesday comes following a series of discussions by Nelson and Ihrke with members of city staff and local veterinarians.
It calls for the annual licensing of all dogs six months old or older with an exception for dogs owned by operators of a state or federally licensed kennel.
Dog owners will, under the proposal, be required to show proof of current vaccinations of the animals prior to or as part of the licensing procedure.
The licenses, to be issued by a licensed Le Mars veterinarian, will include the owner's name and address as well as the color, sex, and breed of the dog as well as the date of the animal's most recent rabies vaccination.
An annual licensing fee will be set by the city council during its city-fee approval session at a future date.
Dog owners will be issued a metal dog tag, identifying the dog and its owner, to be affixed to the dog's collar to be worn by the animal at all times.
Licenses may be purchased for one or three years. A three-year license will require issuance of a new tag each year without cost on proof of current vaccinations.
Dog owners violating the proposed licensing ordinance will be charged according to "municipal code infractions."
The possibility of a local licensing ordinance originated during budget talks earlier this year as council members discussed possible budget cuts ultimately totaling $700,000. Included among the cuts was elimination of the salary of the city's animal control specialist as of July 1.
Since that time the responsibilities for picking up or handling stray dogs has been turned over to the police department.
Nelson during the budget cut discussions suggested that the council look at other options for dog control, a "tagging ordinance" as a revenue source to pay for dog-catcher services rather than to add these duties to those of the police department.
The council plans to continue discussion on the issue in the future.
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When we first moved to Le Mars with our dogs in 1965 we were required to have dog tags. We needed proof of current vaccines and received a "dog tag" to be attached to their collar. Don't recall the $ amount, if any that was charged. Some time along to way it was no longer required and I don't remember why. ????
I have to agree. This sounds like a "money maker" for the city only. I see more stray cats than dogs out on the road and in the neighborhood. If this goes through, it should also include the cats, too. My dogs are also up-to-date with vacines and they wear their tags.
Vote "NO" .... seems to be the growing trend around here.
My dogs wear their rabies tags and id tags I put on them, the shots are current and they are on a leash when they go out. I see absolutely no reason why I should have to pay to license my dogs. This is to pay for animal control, and the police are too busy. Please I have lived in other towns and the police here are far from too busy. Why not address the problem instead of making us law abiding citizens pay more. If the police pick up an animal fine the owner. What about other pets, are cats going to have a license also? They get loose just as easy as a dog, it seems only fair that you would have to include all pets in an ordinace. Lets see it is my dog, on my property which yes I pay taxes on and now the city wants to get more money out of me, where does it stop? People in this town have also had pet snakes, and racoons like they can't carry rabies are they going to be tagged? Don't single me out because I am a dog owner...who takes care of them.
If this ordinance is going to be put in place All other ordinances need to be enforced. The Police Officers have higher priorities than making sure a dog is wearing its tag. If this ordinance passes LeMars will be budgetting a lot more than they think; animal control officers,vehicles and possibly an animal shelter. Also, being a former animal control officer, we don't like being called "dog-catchers". Don't get me wrong it is great to have all pets current on vaccines and to be wearing proper identification. But I am pretty sure this is just going to be leading to banning specific dog breeds and most of all to make money. Of coarse the Veterinarians are not going to complain, they have to get paid too.
to much time on their hands
We already have our dog tagged and vaccinated. Maybe the money from the blunder down town should have been used for the cost of dog control. What I see happening is that this is just another way to pay for the budget that is already inflated heavily. It's just another tax--just called something different. And once this is past more and more ordinances will be drummed up to pay for budget items.
I have a dog and I think this is a really good idea. The problem I have with this is are you going to enforce all of your ordinances or just the ones you feel are going to make you some money. I would think that this council should pay attention to the problems of money shortage everywhere and start cutting more things such as the two bridges to nowhere and tunnels that are not there. Still think you're over staffed.