AN EFFECTIVE DOG LICENSING PROGRAM
As a retired animal control supervisor, I would like to expand on Maria Hernandez’s letter, “Enforce dog licensing” (March 20).
We had teams of two who canvassed county neighborhoods for license and vaccinations enforcement. They concentrated in areas where a public vaccination clinic was scheduled, handed out a clinic schedule and warning notices as well as educational material relative to required rabies vaccination/licensing laws and spay/neuter information, although state and county laws require a rabies vaccination and license education is an important tool along with necessary enforcement.
Our survey teams performed this vital and successful task and staffed our clinics and followed up on enforcement, freeing up field officers.
Whenever a licensed pet was located in the field, the owner may be notified to avoid a trip to the shelter and returned or impounded. The cost of redemption was far less if the dog had proper vaccination/license. Or, if the pet was found dead, it could be returned to the owner. It was heartbreaking enough for an officer to have to do this, especially with children present, but at least the family had closure.
Coupled with public service announcements using local TV/radio programs and now social media outlets, public education is key to a successful vaccination/license program and the importance of spay/neuter programs that affect how many dogs are euthanized every year in a public animal shelter. This may contribute greatly if a facility plans to try and operate a “no kill” facility, and avoid overcrowding.
We took pride in our public education programs, taking them to schools, civic clubs, county fairs or wherever a public event was scheduled. And that low-hanging fruit is easy to pick.