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Cats may join dogs on list for licenses

Published 9:00 pm Sunday, January 6, 2002

By Leslie Moriarty / Herald Writer

By Leslie Moriarty

Herald Writer

MARYSVILLE — Mittens may soon need a license.

At its meeting tonight, the city council will consider whether cats should be licensed and will also take a look at the fees for dog licenses.

Police Chief Bob Carden is suggesting changes in order to meet the increasing costs of providing animal control services in the city.

Carden said in 2002, the rate that the city is charged for boarding animals that are picked up on the streets will jump from $21.50 to $60 per day. They are housed at the Everett Animal Shelter.

Increased costs in boarding the animals, transporting them to the shelter, and in giving medical care to injured animals (required prior to taking them to the shelter) is making it necessary for the city to seek more revenue to support the program, Carden said.

What’s being proposed is:

  • $10 to license altered cats each year, and $20 for unaltered cats. A $25 lifetime license also is an option.

  • Dogs will follow that same fee schedule, which is an increase from the current charge of $10 for an unaltered dog per year.

  • Replacement license tags will increase from $1 to $5.

    In 2001, the city licensed 275 dogs and is anticipating licensing 309 dogs this year. If cats are added, the city thinks it will license 333 cats. If that proves to be the case, the city will see about $9,630 in animal license fees in 2002.

    City officials said the goal of the licensing program is to ensure that more lost and loose animals are returned to owners. Additional education about the need to license dogs and cats is planned by the city, if the council passes the measure.

    The meeting is at 7 p.m. at the Public Safety Building, 1635 Grove St.

    You can call Herald Writer Leslie Moriarty at 425-339-3436

    or send e-mail to moriarty@heraldnet.com.

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