UPDATE: Dog licences for 2013 need to be renewed by February 28, 2014. Tags are considered valid up to that date.

New Dog License Purchases - Renewals Available Online

With a few clicks of the mouse, most dog owners in the Central Okanagan can either renew or purchase a new dog license online.

The Regional District is now offering the convenience of buying a dog license on its website:  regionaldistrict.com.  Dog owners are asked to be patient as the system is receiving such a huge amount of traffic and they may face some delays in connecting and completing their online purchase.

Communications Officer Bruce Smith says, “In the past, only those with the Permanent License tag could renew and pay for their next year’s license online.   While they can still do that (their account number and access code are printed on the renewal notice) and have until February 28th to renew, now dog owners that are purchasing a license for the first time, can go online, set up an account, complete the license application form and pay for it.   The new license tag will be mailed to them.”

Smith adds, “Even though we advised all dog owners that had the 2013 annual license that was shaped like a dog house to come in and swap their tag for free, for a Permanent License, several thousand still have the old 2013 annual tag.  They will have to go in person to one of our licensing locations to renew their license for 2014.  At that time they’ll also receive the new Permanent tag that will provide them the convenience of renewing online in future years.”

As a result of the successful Free Dog License Amnesty program run during October, there are now almost 17,000 licensed dog owners in the Central Okanagan that have received their renewal notices in the mail and have until February 28th to renew their license.  Their 2013 license remains valid until they renew.   The success of that program saw a 30% increase in the number of licensed dog owners.

The annual fee for a dog that has been spayed or neutered is $20 while a dog license for those that have not costs $60.  Current license holders have until the end of February to renew their license without any penalty.  Starting March 1st a $20 dollar late fee is applied to renewals.

Smith adds, “As of January 1st there’s an added incentive for dog owners to ensure their dog is licensed.  The owner of any dog that’s impounded and found without any license will be subject to an additional $300 fine, on top of the regular impound and licensing fees.  The fine is up from $100 in order to hold those dog owners accountable for choosing not to license their pet.”

“Renewing and purchasing a dog license,” Smith says “is not only the responsible thing to do, but it’s required under the Regional District dog bylaw No. 366.  It’s like a kind of insurance, since having an up to date dog license on your pet’s collar makes it easier for our Dog Pound staff to reunite a stray dog with their owner.  We can often do it by phone, without having the owner travel to the pound.”

Smith says, “We also remind dog owners that if their pet unfortunately gets away they should contact the Regional Dog Pound as quickly as possible.  Our bylaw only requires us to hold a dog at the pound for up to 72 hours.”

Permanent license tags are available for sale at the Regional District office (1450 KLO Road), at the Regional Dog Pound (860 Weddell Place), each main local government office and at the Kelowna branch of the SPCA (3785 Casorso Road).  North Westside Road dog owners may also renew or purchase a license when staff is available at the main firehall (514 Udell Road) in Killiney Beach.  

All dog owners purchasing a license for the first time will also receive a My Dog Matters Responsible Dog Owners rewards card that can be used for discounts and special services at more than 35 local businesses listed on the mydogmatters.ca program website.

There’s plenty of information available out dog licensing and Responsible Dog Ownership in the Central Okanagan.  Check out regionaldistrict.com/dogs for information about the Regional Dog service and what to do if you lose or find a dog.

News from © iNFOnews, 2014