Dog licensing bylaw amendment looks to improve process

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Fort St. John council is close to adopting the amended dog licensing bylaw after it was read for the first three times on Tuesday.

The bylaw amendments were made to improve compliance, effectiveness and accessibility of dog licensing processes by offering an online method to register dogs and removing the difference in fees for unaltered and altered dogs. Altered dogs are defined as animals that have been spayed or neutered.

Until this amendment is adopted, licenses can only be obtained in person through city hall or the BC SPCA Branch, making it hard for those with accessibility problems or other issues which prevent them from appearing in person to receive a license.

According to the bylaw supervisor, the increased fees for unaltered dogs discouraged pet owners from purchasing the required license. The discount for altered dogs has a minimal impact on encouraging pet owners to spay or neuter their pets.

The concern was also the confusion it may create in communications about the fee and a barrier for licensing by requiring pet owners to provide documentation indicating their dog had been altered.

Eliminating the different fees for unaltered dogs will likely simplify the fee structure by having only one price for all licenses.

The current licensing system will stay in place until the new online pet licensing system proceeds in 2024.

More details on the bylaws and the amendments can be found below: