Rathdrum mulls getting out of dog licensing

RATHDRUM - Rathdrum wonders if less government will mean more compliance when it comes to getting dogs tagged and their rabies shots.

A lack of compliance under the current city system - a topic Mayor Vic Holmes aired during his recent State of the City address - will be discussed during Tuesday's City Council meeting at 6 p.m.

The city last year issued roughly 200 dog licenses, but with about 2,200 homes, there's "significantly" more canines that aren't identified or have their shots, City Administrator Brett Boyer said.

"We have a low licensing rate in the city," said Boyer, adding that perhaps as little as one-tenth of the dogs are licensed. "An idea we're looking at is changing our ordinance to where we would not require licensing through the city. But there would still be requirements of dog owners.

"This is just a preliminary check with the council to see if they are interested in pursuing."

The council will be asked if it wants city staff to research the topic further and see what other cities have done to increase compliance and the results of municipalities doing away with licensing.

"The idea is for the city to step back, get out of licensing and put the burden on the owners of the dogs," Boyer said. "We still need to be able to identify dogs and make sure they've had their rabies shots for health and safety reasons, but instead of the government being involved, they'd be required to do that on their own."

Boyer said the city has a responsibility for life and safety issues.

"The two objectives of dog licensing are to have contact information and health information about the dog in some form on the dog in case the dog is at large or there is a safety issue," Boyer said. "The second is to make sure that the dog owner gets the rabies shot.

"If we take the city out of the licensing process, but are still there for enforcement we save the owner some money and time while still accomplishing governmental objectives."

Rathdrum Police Chief Kevin Fuhr said he believes many residents don't license their dogs because most people don't think that they will get caught with an unlicensed dog.

"We issue citations to dog owners that have dogs running at large," Fuhr said. "Therefore, if you have an inside dog that doesn't get out, what would cause you to get a license?"

The city has charged $10 each year to have dogs licensed and $20 each year if they're not spayed or neutered. Owners have had vaccinations done on their own.

Boyer said the program hasn't been a big money-maker for the city and it's been somewhat labor intensive as the city sends out an annual reminder letter to residents, but the only reason doing away with the program has been brought up is to increase compliance.

"Maybe owners could use the money that would otherwise be spent on licenses each year toward getting a rabies shot," Boyer said. "The city would lose some fee money, but it will slightly decrease the workload for the city, so it balances out."

Boyer said it's possible that the council could also consider increasing the city's fines related to dogs.

Dogs running at large is a $100 fine. It then goes up to $125 and then $150 for subsequent citations.

"The reason for the high cost is that we have to pay the Kootenai Humane Society $95 for every dog that is taken to the shelter," Fuhr said. "The fine helps to pay for the KHS fee."

Not having a licensed dog is a $25 violation.

Rathdrum employs a full-time animal control officer who works from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Patrol officers handle animal related calls after 4 p.m., including taking animals to the KHS.

RPD wrote 87 citations for dogs running at large and 15 citations for unlicensed dogs last year. It didn't write any citations for no rabies shots.

"In many cases the citation for having an unlicensed dog is waived if they purchase a license when they retrieve the animal and pay the running at large citation," Fuhr said.

If the city decides to forego dog licensing and a dog is picked up for running at large, the owner would have to show proof of rabies shots before they could claim the dog or they'd be subject to a citation, Fuhr said.

No public hearings are scheduled for Tuesday's meeting.