Sun
VANCOUVER – Dog owners should be prepared to shell out extra cash when they license their pets for 2006.
New licences sold in the city have staggered expiry dates, and dog owners in different parts of the city must license their dogs at different times of the year. The first time you purchase one under the new system, you’ll pay more for the licence, although your dog will be licensed for longer than one year.
Bob Cristofoli, supervisor of field operations for the Vancouver Animal Shelter, said the system will make the shelter more efficient by spreading the workload over the year.
“The city has been broken into geographic areas,” said Cristofoli. “Letters have been sent out to dog owners explaining the new procedure.”
Any dog older than three months living in Vancouver must be licensed. Bylaw supporters note the licences helps owners reunite with lost pets. Every year more than 3,500 dogs are lost in the city. A large percentage of lost dogs wearing a licence are returned to their owners, while a higher percentage of dogs lost without a tag never find their way back home. In 2004 animal shelter staff members rescued 1,400 lost, abandoned or abused dogs. More than 400 dogs received a free ride home to their owners, another 700 dogs were collected by their owners at the shelter and the lives of another 233 dogs were improved because they were adopted by loving families.
© The Vancouver Sun 2005