dog licenses in fresno city and county

HOW TO REALIZE TRIPLE BENEFITS OF LICENSE PROGRAMS

• DOG OWNER BENEFITS• ANIMAL PROTECTION

• CITY/COUNTY FINANCIAL AND PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT

A SUMMARY REPORT FROM FAR SUBCOMMITTEES

Dog Licenses in Fresno City and County


ADVANTAGES AND BARRIERS TO CURRENT PET LICENSE

PROGRAMS

BECKY HOLLYJANIE PARTAINKAREN SHOJI

RANDY WALTER

ADVANTAGE:MUNICIPALITIE

S --

FRESNO CITY FRESNO COUNTY

Increase in revenueSimplify and increase

identification of “at large” petsDecrease in impounded animals

thus decrease in animal control resources and expense

Increase in vaccinated animalsDecrease in pet population by

encouraging spay/neuter and responsible ownership

Simplify statistical data gathering and identification of pet numbers

ADVANTAGE:COMMUNITIES

GENERAL PUBLIC

Prompt identification of lost pet

Prompt notification of impounded or found pet

Simplifies reclaim of pet if impounded

Decreased or nonexistent impound fees/penalties

Increased hold at shelter if impounded

Healthier pets through vaccination

ADVANTAGESCOMMUNITY

Prompt identification/notification of lost pet, avoidance of unnecessary impound

Healthier pets through vaccination

Decrease in pet overpopulation and increasing spay/neuter and responsible ownership

RESISTANCEWHY PARTICIPATION IS SO LOW

The general public’s

resistance to pet licensing derives from several sources, including, but not limited to:

high cost (perceived or real),Inconveniencegeneral lack of

education/awareness regarding the cost, necessity and purpose.


CONNECTING TO THE COMMUNITY HOW TO HELP ENGAGE AND EXPAND PARTICIPATION IN

LICENSE PROGRAM

BECKY KLISCHELISA BROWNKAREN SHOJI

BARBARA RODIEK

JUST THE FACTSWHAT ‘S A LICENSE ON A DOG MEAN?

Both Fresno City and Fresno County require all dogs to be licensed.

Do you know what that means? Not many do. A license on a dog means:

That dog has been appropriately vaccinated against Rabies and other communicable diseases.

That dog’s owner/home can be easily identified. If found, Animal Control Officers will make

every attempt to return to proper home, avoiding impound fees and entry into Stray Animal System

A license on a dog entitles the owner to:Reduced fees/penalties if animal is entered into

Animal Control System.

JUST THE FACTSWHERE DO LICENSE FEES GO?

License payments go to the “General Fund” for either the City or the County.

The revenue generated from dog license fees directly support Animal Control Services.

Animal Control Services cost both the City approximately $1.3 million, and the County approximately $1 million per year.

Both the City and County are exploring opportunities to use License Fees to create a fund to support Low/No Cost Spay and Neuter , but this has not yet been enacted

Fresno City Fresno County

While Special Permits may be available for additional animals, Fresno City Residents may license up to four (4) dogs in a residential home

License Fee for a Spayed/Neutered dog is $12/year

License Fee for an unaltered dog is $50/year

Cats are not licensed Dogs must have received a rabies

shot prior to licensing Licensed dogs are allowed one

litter/year. All for sale ads must include mother’s license number

The number of animals you may have is dependent on zoning in your area.

License Fee for a Spayed/Neutered dog is $4/year

License Fee for an unaltered dog is $39/year

Cats are not licensed Dogs must have received a rabies

shot prior to licensing Licensed dogs are allowed one

litter/year. All for sale ads must include mother’s license number

License Guidelines and Fees

Fresno City Fresno County License Applications can be found

online Licenses may be obtained via mail

or in person. Mandatory Documents:

Completed License Form - available online

A copy of a current valid Rabies Vaccination certificate (originals will not be returned)

A copy of Spay or Neuter certificate, if applicable (originals will not be returned)

Fee - make checks payable to City of Fresno Dog License (DO NOT MAIL CASH)

License Applications can be found online

Licenses may be obtained via mail or in person

Mandatory DocumentsCompleted License Form -

available onlineA copy of a current valid Rabies

Vaccination certificate (originals will not be returned)

A copy of Spay or Neuter certificate, if applicable (originals will not be returned)

Fee - make checks payable to County of Fresno Dog License (DO NOT MAIL CASH);


Fresno City Fresno County

Mail or In Person:

Fresno City Hall, 2600 Fresno St, Rm 1098 (entrance on P St., between Tulare and Fresno Sts). – OR –

CCSPCA, 103 S. Hughes Ave, Fresno (559-233-7722, ext. 214) (in person only)

ONLINE LINK: http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/DepartmentPage.aspx?id=1574

Mail or In Person:

1221 Fulton Mall, Third FloorP O Box 11867, Fresno CA 93775-1867(559) 600-3357 FAX (559) 445-3379

Via [email protected]

Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Closed 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm)

http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/DepartmentPage.aspx?id=1574


Perception is Reality

What the community perceives relative to the current license program.

1) License information is difficult to find/understand

2) Licensing is merely a “good” thing to do (it’s an “extra”).

3) There is little “enforcement” of license rules, therefore the program is more voluntary than mandatory.

4) Compliance is clumsy and difficult

5) No identifiable benefits


What the community should know relative to the current license program.

More people are willing to catch/return a stray dog with a license than one without

Altered dog license fees are minimal, while unaltered dog license fees are sometime 5-times more.

Should a licensed dog get loose/lost, Animal Control Agents will make every attempt to return found dogs immediately, never having taken them to the pound.


What the community should know relative to the current license program.

Should a licensed dog wind up in the pound, reclaim fees and/or penalties are often greatly reduced

Should a licensed dog wind up in the pound, that dog is guaranteed 7-days of safe-keeping before entering the pound’s adoption / exit system

Should a licensed dogs be injured while loose, that dog is guaranteed minimal medical care

Recommendations to increase effectiveness and participation

in Dog License Programs

•Reduce costs to the public by providing mobile or traveling low cost rabies and licensing clinics

•Increase convenience by contracting with several veterinary or other facilities for licensing to provide more diverse geographic locations for members of the public to obtain licenses


in Dog License Programs•Increase convenience by contracting with several veterinary or other facilities for licensing to provide more diverse geographic locations for members of the public to obtain licenses

•Increase education, awareness and visibility of licensing program and its purpose through promotion and media campaigns

•Increase education, awareness and visibility by providing literature to local veterinary facilities and pet retail stores, etc.



•Central License Information and Application/Payment SiteoOnlineoLinks for both City and CountyoIntuitive Website Address•Identify/Create alternate application and payment sites (aka utility pay stations).•Simplified Application Process•Uniform (City and County) Application Process•Uniform (City and County) License Fee Schedule



•Development of more comprehensive Incentive ProgramoDiscounts at MerchantsoVet Discounts•Revenue Share with Rescues and Shelters to increase participation•Simplified and compelling Call to Action/Education Campaign



•Rebrand the program to effectively communicate the BENEFITS …

License your pets … it’s Their passport Home

and Your passport to Savings!

Next Steps

•Feedback from Fresno City and County

•Pursue the development of a new “branding” image

•Seek to identify possible “perks”