[vekiuytyh]

"The city of Philadelphia will crack down on any dog owner who doesn't register their pet, and it is doubling license fees to raise more money for shelters"

Philadelphia Doubles Dog License Fees

[Sandra_18X]

Heh. That'll teach the people who don't license their pets and don't register them... a lesson... wait, this won't affect them at all!

Oh someone out there certainly has a sense of humor!

[CaseyFan]

They need staff who go around the city and check for unlicensed dogs, like they have beach patrols at the Jersey shore walking around checking for beach tags. When I was a kid in the burbs, the animal control officer went door-to-door checking. I realize that can't be done on a city wide basis, but certainly can be done on a rotational basis. No one with a licensed dog should have any issues or problems.

[Daruhuw]

I didn't even know you HAD to license pets in the city. What the bloody hell for? Just another way to stick it to people?

"One pet owner we spoke with said he had no problem paying for the privilege of ownership."

Owning property is a privilege? I thought it was a right.

[Thorwaywhobia]

I didn't even know you HAD to license pets in the city. What the bloody hell for? Just another way to stick it to people?

"One pet owner we spoke with said he had no problem paying for the privilege of ownership."

Owning property is a privilege? I thought it was a right.

Owning a dog isn't a right, anymore than having a driver's license is a right.

A license is your dog's ticket home, should it become lost and end up at the city's animal control. Once your dog gets there, you have 48 hours to reclaim it. If you don't, well, your dog has a 50% chance of making it out alive.

[Kneeniasy]

Licensing your pet does absolutely nothing.

Those of us paying it aren't losing our pets left and right, with the city bringing them home to us on a bed of roses. I licensed my pets because it was the thing to do right after getting them from the shelter.

Really, this is just another money-grab.

[JohnMitchel]

I got a bill February for $16. I mean without that $16 I wouldn't have been able to pay for my cancer treatments and my heat would be shut off. Jesus it's just an annual charge. If the city wants to raise this fee and is justifying it with more enforcement action against those not paying this fee, that's OK with me.

The people who keep collecting fertile pit bulls and torturing them are most certainly not paying the Animal License Fee. If the City has a means of identifying who those people are, it would be a bit easier to focus Animal Control on those individuals. If you look at the crisis over at PAWS and PSCPA, it's a huge over abundance of pit bulls and pit mixes that makes it impossible to run a No Kill shelter in the city. Lots of adopters are not willing to take a pet that's older than 2 to 3 years old and as cute as many of them are, they're slow to move out of those crates.

I would happily pay more if it means the City will actually get off its fat ass and go after the collectors and unlicensed owners, especially the ones dumping and overloading our City's precious shelter space with pitts.

[Licacivelip]

The new law does a lot more than raise licensing prices. That's just what the media picked up on - low hanging fruit as they say.

I can't find the body of the law online anywhere to link to it, but there's a lot more to it that will help Philly move towards a goal of becoming a no kill city in the future.

It's not comprehensive, but it's a solid step in the right direction.

[advabHixavoip]

Licensing your pet does absolutely nothing.

Those of us paying it aren't losing our pets left and right, with the city bringing them home to us on a bed of roses. I licensed my pets because it was the thing to do right after getting them from the shelter.

Really, this is just another money-grab.

Accidents do happen. Just because you haven't lost your dog yet doesn't mean you never will. And no, the city won't "bring it back" to you - you need to go pick it up, because the shelter is strapped for cash, they don't have the extra manpower to return animals. Hence why they raised the license rates -- to bring more, much-needed money into the animal shelter.

Have you taken a walk through there to see what they're doing with your tax dollars?

[gydrorway]

I got a bill February for $16. I mean without that $16 I wouldn't have been able to pay for my cancer treatments and my heat would be shut off. Jesus it's just an annual charge. If the city wants to raise this fee and is justifying it with more enforcement action against those not paying this fee, that's OK with me.

The people who keep collecting fertile pit bulls and torturing them are most certainly not paying the Animal License Fee. If the City has a means of identifying who those people are, it would be a bit easier to focus Animal Control on those individuals. If you look at the crisis over at PAWS and PSCPA, it's a huge over abundance of pit bulls and pit mixes that makes it impossible to run a No Kill shelter in the city. Lots of adopters are not willing to take a pet that's older than 2 to 3 years old and as cute as many of them are, they're slow to move out of those crates.

I would happily pay more if it means the City will actually get off its fat ass and go after the collectors and unlicensed owners, especially the ones dumping and overloading our City's precious shelter space with pitts.

it doesn't even have to be an annual fee. if your dog is spayed/neutered and microchipped you can get a permanant license.

[Phassetus]

Have you taken a walk through there to see what they're doing with your tax dollars?

I've taken a walk around the city to see what they're *NOT* doing with it. I regularly donate to the Humane Society and the SPCA, please don't dare try to lecture me on the City picking $16 from my pocket and misspending it.

If they really wanted to do something about the problem, come down harder on the dog fighting industry. It's pretty much a joke unless you're an NFL quarterback, then everyone wants blood and marrow.

I want to see my tax dollars on the street and taking down the source of the problem, not dealing with the end result. It's like buying sponges after a flood, instead of having a proper levy instead.

Tell you what, if the city used the $16 as a reward pool for tips that take down dog fighting rings, I'll donate a hundred every time.

[johnlohanmclee]

All money from dog licensing will be going to the city shelter.

Read more (this may be a slightly out of date version)

http://legislation.phila.gov/attachments/11299.pdf

[romalama]

I've taken a walk around the city to see what they're *NOT* doing with it. I regularly donate to the Humane Society and the SPCA, please don't dare try to lecture me on the City picking $16 from my pocket and misspending it.

If they really wanted to do something about the problem, come down harder on the dog fighting industry. It's pretty much a joke unless you're an NFL quarterback, then everyone wants blood and marrow.

I want to see my tax dollars on the street and taking down the source of the problem, not dealing with the end result. It's like buying sponges after a flood, instead of having a proper levy instead.

Tell you what, if the city used the $16 as a reward pool for tips that take down dog fighting rings, I'll donate a hundred every time.

Huh?? While everyone would agree that dog fighting is a problem in this city, as in most, it really doesn't have much to do with the overburdened, under funded shelter system. The city shelter was full before the latest dog fighting raids unfortunately. If you want tougher penalties for dog fighting, then you need to complain to the courts, not the shelters. Even if dog fighting was eradicated, people would still be dumping their pets. Not to mention the fact that dog licensing is the law in most places across the country. It's nothing new or out of the ordinary. It's just finally going to be enforced here.

[bestworkothlo]

I've taken a walk around the city to see what they're *NOT* doing with it. I regularly donate to the Humane Society and the SPCA, please don't dare try to lecture me on the City picking $16 from my pocket and misspending it.

If they really wanted to do something about the problem, come down harder on the dog fighting industry. It's pretty much a joke unless you're an NFL quarterback, then everyone wants blood and marrow.

I want to see my tax dollars on the street and taking down the source of the problem, not dealing with the end result. It's like buying sponges after a flood, instead of having a proper levy instead.

Tell you what, if the city used the $16 as a reward pool for tips that take down dog fighting rings, I'll donate a hundred every time.

Philadelphia is doing something about the dog fighting: going into schools and educating Children and also the Philadelphia Anti-Dog Fighting Campaign.

Also, just because your dog has never been lost does not mean it will never happen…losing a dog can happen to anyone. The chances of you getting your dog back if lost are higher if you license your dog than if you don't.

Also, donate to local shelters, NOT the Humane Society of United States.

Also, the source of the overpopulation of dogs in shelters is NOT just because of dog fighting....Many people get dogs and then decide that they cannot care for them anymore, they move, or have children and decide they don’t want the pet anymore and bring them to the local shelter. Also, a HUGE problem is back yard breeding and people NOT spaying and neutering their pets.

[DiBellaBam]

A huge reason for overpopulation is dogs not being neutered:

"The measure encourages both dog licensing and neutering. Included in the measure is a new requirement on groups or organizations that sell dogs or put them up for adoption that any dog released must be neutered."

"And owners would have a slight incentive for neutering: the license fee would be $16 for neutered dogs, $40 for those that are not."

City Council Committee OKs New Philadelphia Dog Laws « CBS Philly

[Amerworma]

Another good article explaining why they are doing what they are:

Teeth for dog-tag law - Philly.com

[HassFks]

City of Philadelphia - Customer Service Assistant - PetData

[taesrom]

A huge reason for overpopulation is dogs not being neutered:

"The measure encourages both dog licensing and neutering. Included in the measure is a new requirement on groups or organizations that sell dogs or put them up for adoption that any dog released must be neutered."

"And owners would have a slight incentive for neutering: the license fee would be $16 for neutered dogs, $40 for those that are not."

City Council Committee OKs New Philadelphia Dog Laws « CBS Philly

I'm sorry, but I can't believe this law is really going to impact behavior. Those who spay and neuter and vaccinate their pets will pay. The people who cause the real health and safety issues are going to continue thumbing their nose at the city.

When the city decided to "get tough" with enforcing the various trash codes, the ONLY people I heard about getting ticketed (harassed) are people who basically follow the rule, hold up their end of the bargain, are generally good citizens, etc. Large swaths of the city continue looking like open air dumps.

Aside from the general unfairness that is sure to come from the lopsided enforcement of this law, I am hesistant to license my dog because, as a rottweiler, he is one of the breeeds that are frequently targeted by idiotic (as opposed to science driven) BSL. Although PA state law prohibits BSL, that does not make me feel that the city would not try something on their own.

I spend a not insignificant amount of time and money every month working with a rottie rescue group. I donate money to the PSPCA, PAWS, ACCT. Way more than $16 a year. All three organizations do a great job with scant resources. However, I am NOT optimistic that this new licensing fee is going to be anything but a nuisance law designed to hit people, with resources, who already do the right thing.

I sincerly hope the city fairly-NOT selectively- enforces this law and can demonstrate that they are improving the lives of Philly's vulnerable and homeless animal population. I'd really love to have my scepticism proved wrong this time, but I've been burned one too many times by city agencies to start jumping up and down yet.

[Grenader]

Huh?? While everyone would agree that dog fighting is a problem in this city, as in most, it really doesn't have much to do with the overburdened, under funded shelter system.

I disagree. Bad owners who think they can breed fighting dogs or dogs to train fighting dogs, and the set loose or escaped dogs that are from both groups.

They most definitely contribute to the number of dogs in the shelters.

Also, just because your dog has never been lost does not mean it will never happen…losing a dog can happen to anyone. The chances of you getting your dog back if lost are higher if you license your dog than if you don't.

Exactly what are those chances? If you're going to make the statement, what are the chances that 1, I'll lose my dogs and 2, that they'll be at the magic shelter because they're licensed? The first isn't very likely to happen, and the second is even more unlikely to happen.
Also, the source of the overpopulation of dogs in shelters is NOT just because of dog fighting....Many people get dogs and then decide that they cannot care for them anymore, they move, or have children and decide they don’t want the pet anymore and bring them to the local shelter. Also, a HUGE problem is back yard breeding and people NOT spaying and neutering their pets. Backyard breeding and not spaying/neutering are par the course for dog fighting and selling the dogs into fighting. So yeah, dog fighting relates to the overcrowding problem.

I'm completely stunned that people seem to think that dog fighting is a new thing in this city. Growing up in South Philly, it wasn't unusual to see burial mounds in Wharton Square Park or the remains of the leashes from training dogs.

Like Sometimesilie, I'm highly skeptical. I see the City making an impractical money grab and them turning vets into law enforcers. I'm such a skeptic because I've seen the fighting dogs, I've seen the remains and aftermaths of the fights, but what I haven't seen is a magically returned pet because of the city's License Scheme.

[Alexeric]

Also, donate to local shelters, NOT the Humane Society of United States.

Addressing this separately.

I used to donate $200 per year to a certain shelter on Lombard St. That's where I got both of my dogs.

In adopting both of my animals, I was met by THE most rude people ever. The only pleasant interaction came with the lady who does the checking out and picking up the pups. My brother also adopted a dog from there as well, and they were just as unpleasant with him.

The final straw came when my wife finally witnessed it. We were visiting in consideration of a third dog and the woman in the back rudely told me "Don't let them smell your hand! You might give them some disease!"

Cool. You just lost a donor. I have never heard of a disease passed by smell from a human hand, but it must be pretty vicious.