Dog license fees to increase under Dane County Board proposal | State

Dane County’s public health agency is pushing for an increase in dog license fees this fall; This will especially affect owners of dogs that have not been spayed or neutered.

The increase would bring Dane County into compliance with a state law requiring a price difference between spayed or neutered dogs and “unaltered” dogs. State Law If a county, city or village increases license fees, prices should be higher for unaltered dogs, he says.

If approved by county leaders, the county’s share of license fees would increase from $11 for all dogs, to $16 for altered dogs and $26 for unaltered dogs. The higher fee of $26 would be a 136% increase over the original price set five years ago.

In July, the public health agency released a statement. budget note He said turnover in the Animal Services program has increased and that increasing dog license fees would bring about $170,000 in additional funding to the program.

Citing the higher prices offered for unaltered dogs, the agency cited research linking these dogs to more dangerous behavior.

“Studies have shown that most dog bites occur from intact male dogs. The agency noted that the fee would be $10 more because unaltered dogs pose a greater risk.

John Hausbeck, who oversees the Animal Services program, said he has received feedback from residents and community leaders upset with the proposed increases. For example, the village president of McFarland opposed the measure at this month’s County Board meeting.

“The people you want to implement these increases are our local clerks, our local clerks, who will have to navigate one of the most difficult elections in November, probably in the lifetime of anyone alive. We will then be asked to communicate any such increases to our local residents and hear feedback and reactions to that,” village President Carolyn Clow said at the Oct. 9 meeting.

Dog license fees are a major source of funding for the Animal Services program. The other source of financing is general tax revenues. Hausbeck said the money earned from dog license fees helps cover the costs of a short-staffed team.

“The amount we are asking to raise the fee does not cover all of our revenue,” Hausbeck said. “We didn’t raise the issue further because we thought there would be too much backlash. … It’s hard to predict what the costs will be. It really comes down to this. “What do we need to run the program and what services are requested by the community?”

The Animal Services program consists of a lead officer and five field officers. They respond to daily reports of animal mistreatment or welfare issues, including animal bites. The team also ensures pets are properly vaccinated, quarantined and monitored at home.

“We pay our staff, we pay for supplies, we pay for the vehicles our staff uses to get around the county, and we also pay for housing services that are provided through a contract by the Humane Society,” Hausbeck said.

In 2007, support from the Dane County Humane Society was added to the Animal Services program. Today the society provides a shelter facility for stray animals. It also provides care, treatment, rabies-related services, and humane disposal of some animals.

According to the city of Madison, last year the public health agency provided up to $230,000 in one-time funding to the Humane Society to fund its services. budget documents.

“The Dane County Humane Society has stated that expenses associated with this service have increased significantly over the years,” the documents state.

The organization’s 29-acre facility at 5132 Voges Road is an open-entry shelter that accepts animals in need of assistance regardless of age, health condition or temperament. The website states that all healthy or treatable animals can stay for as long as it takes to find a loving home.

Dane County Humane Society spokeswoman Lisa Bernard declined to comment on how the organization’s services would be affected by the county’s proposed dog license fee increases.

Both dogs and cats in Madison right now licensed For $20 if spayed or neutered. If it does not change, the price is 25 TL. Licenses are good for one calendar year. Because state law does not require cats to be spayed or neutered, they will not be affected by the proposed county increases.

Pet owners in Madison are required to license a cat or dog that is 5 months old. If a license is purchased on or after April 1, an additional $5 is added if pet owners have been a Madison resident for more than a month or have had a pet for more than a month.

The County Board is scheduled to vote on proposed dog fee increases and other budget measures today. If the board approves the budget, it will go to interim County Administrator Jamie Kuhn to sign or veto the budget.