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- Levan Town approves changes for fees and dates of dog licensing
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By Rebecca Dopp
Times-News Correspondent
Fido will no longer be allowed to run around Levan Town city limits without consequences. The town council passed a resolution on August 8th that updated Ordinance #12-242-D,E, F, approving the change of fees and dates for dog licensing. Now every dog owner will be expected to obtain a license and keep their animals in a secure environment or face consequences of their own.
The council has set up a special date and time for dog owners to obtain a license and even have their animals vaccinated against rabies which is required before a dog tag will be issued. The date will be Thursday, Aug. 16 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. A distemper shot will also be available, although it is not mandatory for the tag. The dogs must have the tags on at all times.
The dog tags must be obtained by Sept. 1, 2007 and can be picked up at the town offices during regular working hours. The fees will be $10.00 for a male or female neutered or spayed, and $15.00 for male or female unneutered/unspayed.
The fee will be due each year on Sept. 1 and delinquent after Oct. 1. A penalty of 50% shall be added to delinquent payments. The council decided that they will not offer a kennel license.
“Owners of any newly aquired dog of licensing age or any dog that attains licensing age after Oct. 1 of any year shall make and apply for registration and license within 30 days after such aquisition or dogs attain the above stated age (3 months) provided that the license fee shall be 1/2 of that above required for new applications received after March 1 of any year.” (Ordinance #12-242-F)
If the animals are picked up, they will be housed in Tim Searle’s kennel. Owners will have three days to claim the animal otherwise the dogs will be euthanized.
“How do we feel about the fees [for impound]?,” asked council member Brian Ercanbrack. “I think there should be a three-strike rule.”
Ercanbrack said he felt $50 for a first time offense would be sufficient and hopefully discourage owners from letting it happen again, $75 for a second offense, and if there happened to be a third offense, then he joked that the owners should not bother coming to pick them up.
“We don’t want it to become a continual problem,” said Ercanbrack.
He said that once everyone gets used to this new process, it should go more smoothly, but that it’s going to take some time.
Council members said they hope all dog owners will abide by the ordinance and be responsible for their animals.
A letter explaining the fees and what to do to pick up an animal from impound will be handed out at the time of licensing.
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