City dog owners reminded to renew licences

Your dog licence is up for renewal at the end of the month.

Lethbridge Regional Municipal Enforcement - Animal Services would like to remind local dog owners that 2018 licence renewals are due Jan. 31. Owners with overdue accounts past that date could be subject to fines.

The Dog Control Bylaw requires all resident dogs six months and older to be licensed, and that those licences must be renewed yearly.

Officers conduct education and enforcement efforts for licensing throughout the year, and in 2017, over 500 violation tickets were issued for unlicensed dogs. These efforts will continue in 2018 to gain further compliance.

Licensing with the City provides proof of ownership, similar to registering a vehicle, and licensing fees support education programs, maintenance of off-leash parks and animal shelter operations.

Stray animals found with ID are held longer at the shelter, and Animal Control Peace Officers have a better chance of contacting an owner to return the pet.

Annual dog licences range in cost as follows:

$20 – fixed and has a microchip and/or tattoo;

$25 – fixed but no microchip or tattoo;

$45 – not fixed but has either a microchip and/or tattoo; and

$50 – not fixed and no microchip or tattoo (ID).

Owners of licensed dogs who have changed addresses within the past year are asked to update their contact information by calling 403-320-4099.

Dog licences can be renewed online at lethbridge.ca/onlineservices as well as by mail or in person at city hall or the Animal Shelter. For more information on pet licensing, visit lethbridge.ca/petlicensing.