HomeMy WebLinkAboutCLD-038-11 ClafilWfi REPORT
MUNICIPAL
Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Date: December 12, 2011 Resolution#: P 7 "1 By-law#:
Report#: CLD-038-11 File#:
Subject: RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS BY-LAW — FEE SCHEDULE
RECOMMENDATIONS:
I
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report CLD-038-11 be received;
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2. THAT Council approve the proposed fee structure changes to be effective
January 1, 2012;
3. THAT the draft amending by-law attached to Report CLD-038-11 be approved;
and
4. THAT all interested parties be advised of Council's decision.
Submitted by: Reviewed by: - '
r ': arrie Franklin Wu,
uni 'pal Clerk Chief Administrative Officer
PLB/CAG
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T 905-623-3379
REPORT NO.: CLD-038-11 PAGE 2
1. BACKGROUND
Under the authority of the Municipal Act, and in accordance with the Clarington
Responsible Pet Owners' By-law, the Municipality of Clarington requires that all dogs
and cats be licensed. Note, licensing of dogs has been done since 1859 and cats since
2000. The purpose of licensing pets is to ensure the health and safety of our Clarington
residents and our pets. The licensing revenues assist the Municipality in providing
valuable animal related services such as:
• Easy reuniting of dogs and cats to their owners if the animal is wearing a current
tag,
• Public education initiatives in schools and within the community,
• The feeding, sheltering and safe keeping of impounded or surrendered animals,
and
• Our pet adoption program.
2. FEE STRUCTURE AND PRICES
Effective January 1, 2000 By-law 99-90 was enacted by Council, which updated and
consolidated a number of by-laws governing animals in the Town of Newcastle. As
well, this by-law implemented the licensing of cats and the opportunity for lifetime
licences. Since 2000, By-law 99-90 has been repealed and replaced with By-law
2006-227, which has been amended several times. Despite the many amendments to
the by-laws, the fee structure has remained rather consistent and the associated fee
prices have remained very affordable.
The current fee structure and associated fee prices for Clarington are as follows:
Licence Fees
$10.00 Dog - Microchipped & spayed/neutered
$20.00 Dog- Spayed/neutered or microchipped
$35. Pog-- Unaltered
$40. Pog-- Lifetime (must be altered & microchipped)
$100.00 Dog_- Agricultural
$10.00 Cat - Microchipped & spayed/neutered
$20.00 Cat - Spayed/neutered or microchipped
$25.00 Pat- Unaltered
$40.00 Cat-- Lifetime (must be altered & microchipped)
$100.00 Cat-- Agricultural
(Chart 1)
REPORT NO.: CLD-038-11 PAGE 3
Attachment 1 to this Report is a summary of licensing structure and prices for area
municipalities.
3. COMMENTS
3.1 Fee Increase
Prior to approximately 1967 dog owners paid an additional tax and were actually
registered on the tax roll as dog owners. While this practice is no longer followed, the
concept remains today that licensing revenues are collected from dog and cat owners to
assist in paying for animal related services within our community.
The actual costs for animal related services have steadily increased over the past 5
years, while the licensing fees have remained rather static. Among the cost increases
are many external influences beyond our control including, but not limited to: fuel,
medications, veterinarian, and food.
Staff are recommending that the licence fee prices be increased effective January 2012.
For the most part, the recommended fee increase is $5.00 per licence. Staff believes
the proposed fees to be affordable, reasonable, fair, and in line with our neighbouring
municipalities.
Recommended Licence Fees — effective January 1, 2012
$15.00 Dog - Microchipped & spayed/neutered
$25.00 Dog - Spayed/neutered, no microchip
$40.00 Dog - Unaltered
$100.00 FDoa-- Agricultural
$15.00 Cat - Microchipped & spayed/neutered
$25.00 Cat - Spayed/neutered or microchipped
$40.00 FaUnaltered
$100.00 Cat-- Agricultural
(Chart 2)
REPORT NO.: CLD-038-11 PAGE 4
3.2 Lifetime Licences
A noted above, in Chart 1, Clarington's licence structure includes a "lifetime" licence.
This concept was introduced in 1999 (effective January 1, 2000) and provides dog/cat
owners the opportunity to purchase a single licence which would only expire upon the
death of the dog/cat. The price for a lifetime licence is $40 and is only permitted for
dogs/cats who are altered (i.e. spayed or neutered) and who have been microchipped.
The lifetime licence is offered as an incentive to our pet owners to alter and comply with
our licensing requirements.
The current licence prices are deemed affordable, reasonable and fair, with one
exception, being the lifetime fee. The average lifespan of a dog is approximately 12
years and an indoor cat is greater than 10 years. Therefore, an owner of a dog who is
altered and microchipped has an option to pay $10.00 for an annual licence or pay
$40.00 for a lifetime licence. This owner, therefore, is only contributing to offset the
costs of animal related services for a four-year period which equates to approximately
25% of the life of the animal.
Traditionally, any lifetime licence fees collected have been applied against "current
year" expenses and have not been allocated to a reserve to be applied against future
expenditures. To do so, would have resulted in increased processing resources and
reduced annual revenues.
Inherent in an annual licensing process is the ability for staff to maintain current
ownership records. Because the owner purchases the licence when they first acquire
their pet, they typically do not remember to notify the Animal Shelter of any ownership,
address, or telephone changes. Thus, often times when an animal, who has a valid
lifetime licence, is impounded staff encounter difficulty in contacting the owners. While
staff make every effort to maintain a current and accurate repository of ownership
records, limited staff resources does present challenges in proactively updating our
data.
Staff are therefore recommending that the lifetime licence category be discontinued
effective January 1, 2012. Any existing, valid lifetime licences would remain valid for
the life of the animal. Alternatively, should Council wish to continue this licensing
category, staff would recommend that a more appropriate licence fee be set for the
lifetime licence. Based on the average life of a dog being 12 years and a cat being
more, staff would recommend that a fee of $150.00 ($15 for 10 years and then beyond
that would be essentially free) be set.
REPORT NO.: CLD-038-11 PAGE 5
4. CONCURRENCE - Not applicable
5. CONCLUSION
The cost for animal related services in the Municipality of Clarington have steadily
increased while the licensing fees for pet owners have remained rather static. Staff are
recommending that the licence fees for dogs and cats be increased as detailed in
Chart 2 of this Report to offset these expenses. Staff are also recommending that the
lifetime licence category be discontinued. Proposed changes should have minimal
impact on our pet owners and will realize and an increase in licensing revenues of
approximately $20,000.
CONFORMITY WITH STRATEGIC PLAN
The recommendations contained in this report conform to the general intent of the
following priorities of the Strategic Plan:
Promoting economic development
X Maintaining financial stability
Connecting Clarington
Promoting green initiatives
Investing in infrastructure
Showcasing our community
Not in conformity with Strategic Plan
Staff Contact: Anne Greentree, Deputy Clerk
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Animal Licence Fees — Neighbouring Municipalities
Attachment 2 - By-law—Amending Licence Fees
List of interested parties to be advised of Council's decision:
Nancy Taylor, Director of Finance /Treasurer
Attachment 1 to
Report CLD-038-11
2012 ANIMAL LICENSE FEES - OTHER MUNICIPALITIES
CITY OF PETERBOROUGH
DOG CAT
Unaltered $50 N/A
Spayed/Neutered $25 N/A
SENIOR RATES (OVER 65)
Unaltered $35 N/A
Spayed/Neutered $15 N/A
CITY OF OSHA WA
DOG CAT
Unaltered with proof of annual rabies $50 $50
vaccine
Unaltered with proof of annual rabies $60 Lifetime $60 Lifetime
vaccine & microchip
Spayed/neutered and annual rabies $25 $25
vaccine
Spayed/neutered, annual rabies vaccine & $40 Lifetime $40 Lifetime
microchip
Special Needs Dogs No charge N/A
• Including ferrets, which must also be licensed.
CITY OF PICKERING
DOG CAT
Unaltered $50 $50
Unaltered with Microchip $40 $40
Spayed/Neutered $20 $20
Spayed/Neutered with Microchip $15 $15
Replacement tag $5 $5
PAW ANIMAL SERVICES
DOG CAT
WHITBY
Unaltered, over 3 months $40 $40
Spayed/Neutered $20 $20
Microchipped $35 $35
Spayed/Neutered and Microchipped $15 $15
Replacement tag $5 $5
Lifetime licence for spayed/neutered only $35 N/A
Personal Assitance Dog, Law Enforcement No fee N/A
Working Dog, Companion Dog
Attachment 1 to
Report CLD-038-11
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2012 ANIMAL LICENSE FEES - OTHER MUNICIPALITIES
TOWN OF AJAX
DOG CAT
Unaltered, over 3 months $30 $30
Spayed/Neutered $20 $20
Microchi ed $25 $25
Spayed/Neutered and Microchi ed $15 $15
Replacement to $5 $5
Lifetime licence for spayed/neutered onl $35 N/A
Personal Assistance Dog, Law No fee N/A
Enforcement Working Dog, Companion
Do
TOWNSHIP OF UXBRIDGE
DOG CAT
Spayed/Neutered $20 N/A
Male or Female — 1't do $30 N/A
Male or Female —2" do $35 N/A
Male or Female — 3 Id do $40 N/A
CITY OF KAWARTHA LAKES
DOG CAT
Unaltered $20 N/A
Spayed/Neutered $25 N/A
Replacement to $5 N/A
PORT HOPE— OPERATED BY HAMILTON TOWNSHIP
DOG CAT
November 1 st to February 28
Unaltered $15 N/A
Spayed/Neutered $10 N/A
March 1S to October 31
Unaltered $20 N/A
Spayed/Neutered $15 N/A
TOWNSHIP OF BROCK
DOG CAT
Unaltered $25 N/A
Spayed/Neutered $20 N/A
Replacement to $.05 N/A
Attachment 2 to
Report CLD-038-11
THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
BY-LAW NO. 2011-
Being a by-law to amend By-law 2006-227, as amended, to licence,
regulate and prohibit certain animals or classes thereof within the
limits of the Municipality of Clarington, or defined areas therein.
WHEREAS Sections 9 to 11 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25, as amended
("Municipal Act"), confer the power to pass by-laws regulating or prohibiting animals to a lower-
tier municipality;
AND WHEREAS Section 9(3)(b) of the Municipal Act confers the power upon a municipality, in
exercising its powers to regulate and prohibit respecting a matter, to provide for a system of
licences, permits, approvals or registrations respecting the matter, and to impose conditions as
a requirement of obtaining, continuing to hold or renew a licence, permit, approval or
registration;
AND WHEREAS Section 391 of the Municipal Act authorizes the municipality to pass by-laws
imposing fees or charges on any class of Persons for services or activities provided or done by
or on behalf of it;
AND WHEREAS Section 396 of the Municipal Act provides that a by-law passed under Section
391 may provide for fees and charges that vary on any basis the municipality considers
appropriate and specifies in the by-law, and for different classes of Persons and deal with each
class in a different way;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Council of the Corporation of the
Municipality of Clarington enacts as follows:
1. THAT Schedule A be amended to delete the Licence Fees and replace them with the
following Licence Fees:
Details Fee
1. Dog— microchipped & spayed or neutered 15.00
2. Dog—spayed or neutered, no microchip 25.00
3. Dog— Unaltered 40.00
4. Dog—Agricultural 100.00
5. Cat—microchipped & spayed or neutered 15.00
6. Cat—spayed or neutered, no microchip 25.00
7. Cat—Unaltered 40.00
8. Cat—Agricultural 100.00
Note: There is a 10% discount for licences purchased before January 1 s'of the licensing year
with the exception of Agricultural licences.
2. This By-law shall come into full force and effect on January 1, 2012.
BY-LAW passed in open session this 19th day of December, 2011.
Adrian Foster, Mayor
Patti L. Barrie, Municipal Clerk