NORWICH – City dog owners who have yet to license their canine companion will have until June 15 to do so or pay a $15 surcharge on top of the regular licensing fee – $11 for a spayed or neutered dog and $23 for those that aren’t.

In October, the city’s Common Council approved a dog enumeration program that will begin on that date, a kind of “dog census,” according to Mayor Joe Maiurano. Currently, the mayor said there are approximately 900 licensed dogs within city limits. The number of unregistered animals is unknown at this time, stated Code Enforcement Officer Jason Lawrence.

“Maybe there’s 100 out there, maybe 200, maybe more. We just don’t know,” he added.

Beginning June 15, a city representative will be going door-to-door, identifying the number of dogs at each and every residence in the city and checking on their licensing status.

Most of the complaints the city receives in regards to canines involve those that are unlicensed, said the mayor. According to Lawrence, it’s common sense to have your pet licensed regardless, particularly in lost dog cases.