How Failure To Increase Dog License Fees Is Biting Pa. Taxpayers

If you’re a dog lover, you don’t focus on the cost of ownership.

The food, veterinary care, grooming, medications, toys and treats to keep them healthy and happy are well worth the price. In return, you receive loyalty and unconditional love.

If Pennsylvania raised its annual dog licensing fee a few bucks, you probably wouldn’t even notice. Dog lovers surely wouldn’t give up their pal, or decide not to adopt one, just because of that nominal cost.

A hike in the fee is long overdue. And every day that goes by without one, taxpayers are paying the price.

The system was set up so that licensing fees cover most of the cost of state dog wardens, who protect dogs from being abused, protect the public from dangerous dogs and handle stray dogs. Other money is raised by kennel licensing fees and fines.

That’s logical. Dog owners should bear the government’s costs associated with dogs. Taxpayers — many of whom have no interest in dogs — shouldn’t have to.

That’s not how it works anymore.

The stagnant licensing fee — it hasn’t changed since 1996 — no longer is sufficient to cover the dog warden program.

For the past two years, tax dollars have been used to make up the difference. That’s the first time tax money was needed to support the program since the dog license law was enacted in 1893.

This fiscal year, the cost to taxpayers was $1.2 million. Next year, it is projected to be $1.5 million.

See a trend?

Costs will continue to rise. And the dog warden program will continue to be stretched thin, meaning kennels might not be inspected as often and dangerous dog investigations may take longer.

Local animal shelters are impacted, too, as licensing fees are used to pay them to take in strays. They are receiving less for providing that service, $5, down from $40, because of the lack of state funds.

Increasing the dog license fee should be one of the easiest decisions for lawmakers this year.

Dog people won’t mind the increase. We know that a license protects our dogs by identifying them, and us, in case they get lost.

Those who don’t own dogs won’t be affected by the increase, and they will be better protected from stray and dangerous dogs. If an unlicensed dog bites you, it can be harder to hold the owner accountable.

What are lawmakers waiting for? Identical legislation is pending in the state House and Senate. Each bill has at least minimal bipartisan support. This isn’t controversial. Just do it.

The legislation, House Bill 526 and Senate Bill 232, would standardize the cost. Currently, prices depend on whether a dog is spayed or neutered.

In most Pennsylvania communities, licenses for dogs that are not spayed or neutered are $8.50 a year, or $51.50 for a lifetime. Licenses for dogs that are spayed or neutered are $6.50 a year, or $31.50 for a lifetime.

The legislation would make the cost of an annual license $10 and a lifetime license $49.

People who are disabled or age 65 and older would qualify for discounted fees: $7 a year or $33 for a lifetime license.

About half of Pennsylvania’s approximately 3 million dogs are licensed, state officials estimate.

It’s worth a few more bucks a year from dog lovers to keep it that way.