Rathdrum City Council releases the hounds

RATHDRUM - The City of Rathdrum is getting out of the dog licensing business.

The City Council on Tuesday night decided to have the city stop licensing canines, while still requiring residents to have their pooches identified and get rabies shots.

"We will be suggesting some changes to the penalties as well," City Administrator Brett Boyer said.

Boyer said that he and Police Chief Kevin Fuhr will meet with staff on increasing citations and make the recommendations at a future council meeting. City officials said they want a specific fine for both not having an identification tag and not having a rabies shot.

"Currently it is altogether in one," Boyer said.

The current fine for dogs running at large or not having their shots is $70.

The council has not decided on exactly which day the city will stop the licensing process and details of if or when residents who have already licensed their dogs this year will be reimbursed.

"That will be finalized at the next meeting," Boyer said.

The city wonders if less government will mean more compliance with dog licensing. The city doesn't have a firm estimate on its compliance rate, but just 154 permits were issued through the city last year. If half of the 2,200 households have one dog, the rate would be 14 percent.

Doing away with licensing would allow city staff to devote more time to other functions, city officials said. They said having owners get identification tags at area pet stores would also support local businesses.

Residents are currently required to license any dog more than 6 months old. The license is good for one year. Prior to issuance of a license, the owner must provide proof of rabies vaccination.

The city has charged $10 each year to have dogs licensed and $20 each year if they're not spade or neutered. Owners have always been required to have vaccinations done on their own, so that part of the program wouldn't change.