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.
“It makes the identification process that much easier for us and if someone were to have any type of issue with a dog, such as its rabies shot status or in cases where a pet owner has misplaced their pet’s paperwork, it’s invaluable,” he added. “The biggest thing is, if you love your pet, you want to know where it is if it’s lost. Without a license, how are we to know whose dog it is?”
According to city code, anyone living within city limits owning a dog must have it licensed by the time it reaches four months of age. Owners are also responsible for keeping their pet’s rabies vaccination up to date. To license a dog, the owner must provide a current rabies certificate and proof of a spay or neuter to the city clerk’s office at One City Plaza.
As of Jan. 1, New York state ceased to provide dog tags, issue dog license renewals or maintain dog licensing data as a service to municipalities. In addition, the state now requires the city to identify and list each and every dog living within city limits.
Maiurano said the program will benefit the city in several ways, educating people on the city’s licensing regulations and improving safety standards within the city. The program will also benefit the city fiscally, as licensing fees will help to fund the dog control program.
“This is basically a safety issue, for both the community and the dogs,” stated Maiurano. “A lot of people out there neglect to keep their pet’s shots up to date and you hate to see a dog suffer, so we have to make sure these animals are being cared for properly. If you own a dog here in the city, we need to know it.”
Since the retirement of long-time dog control officer Jeremy Stopford, city police have handled all dog-related calls, with Code Enforcement providing additional assistance. All dog-related calls should be directed to the Norwich Police Department at 334-1212.