City of North Battleford animal license fees for dogs and cats are going up in 2011.
City council approved the increases unanimously by resolution in a special meeting Dec. 20.
The animal license fee changes are: for each unsterilized animal the fee goes up from $25 to $60; for each sterilized animal the fee goes up to $20 from $10; for duplicate tag replacement the fee is unchanged at $5; late registration will see an additional fee of $20 as opposed to $10; fees for dangerous dogs (animals deemed by a provincial court judge to be dangerous) are increased to $1,250 up from $500; and registration fees for exotic animals rise from $100 to $250.
The animal license fees had been unchanged since 1989.
According to a memo from Fire Chief Pat MacIsaac the increase is needed to meet associated costs as well as the City's commitment to animal welfare.
The City has committed a $15,000 increase in its Humane Society grant in 2010, with $15,000 added over the next two years. As well, improvements are needed for the animal shelter and the pound. Tag costs and City Hall staff costs have risen over the years, and special constables are taking a more proactive stance toward animal control and are incurring costs such as advertising.
MacIsaac also noted residents are less tolerant of animal related issues, resulting in more complaints to the special constables. Most of the after hours call outs are animal related, the fire chief stated.
He also adds the new fees are in line with what is in place in other cities in Saskatchewan, stating in his memo that the increases "bring extremely outdated fees in line with the current norms and realities."
Councillors went along with the increases, citing the need to keep up with costs and noting that the new fees were in line with what other cities had in place.
