Staff
One year after the Town of Fort Frances made a push for more people to get licences for their pets, more dogs and cats have got their tags.
As first reported a year ago, only about two dozen canines had licences at that time.
Since then, that number has increased to 127, local bylaw enforcement/animal control officer Arlene Byrnes said late last week.
“It has been a good increase,” she noted. “People have really stepped up and bought their licences.”
Byrnes reminded dog owners that, as per the town bylaw, there is a $55 fine (plus a court fee) if your pet is picked up by bylaws officers and found not to have a licence.
But she noted the benefit of having a licensed animal, beyond being compliant with the bylaw, is that the town will be able to contact owners if their pet goes astray and gets picked up.
Byrnes said having this peace of mind should be reason enough for pet owners to get licences.
Residents can buy licences at any time at the Civic Centre front desk.
The cost is $22 for a spayed/neutered dog and $32 for those that aren’t (present vet papers to prove whether your animal has been fixed).
The licence has to be renewed each year. Licensing runs on a January-to-December schedule, so everyone renews them when a new year starts, not necessarily 12 months from when they first purchased a licence.
