By Taylor J. Hale
Gazette Reporter

STEVENS POINT — Dog owners in the Stevens Point area should watch out for a forthcoming increase in dog license fees.

Currently, the licensing cost for spayed or neutered dogs is $8, and unspayed or unneutered dogs are $18. The new amendment, which would take effect in 2019, would raise the price to $12 and $22 respectively. The newly generated revenue would be used to hire animal control specialists.

“The Humane Society is going to hire an additional humane officer. They are increasing from three to four. If people ask what they are getting for the extra $4, it should be better coverage for humane officers,” said Corey Ladick, Comptroller and Treasurer.

Right now, spayed and neutered dogs licenses bring in $6 to the county and $2 to the city, and unspayed and unneutered brings in $18 to the county and $2 to the city per permit. With the new amendment, spayed and neutered licenses would bring $10 to the county and $2 to the city, and unspayed and unneutered licenses would bring $20 to the county and $2 to the city.

The county’s $4 increase is planned to help lessen the burden of animal control on local Stevens Point law enforcement, who many times are first responders on runaway dog and other animal issues. These new fees are meant to secure the safety of denizens in the local area and help fund the Portage County Humane Society.

“People should be seeing an improvement in response times from the new revenue,” Ladick said.

A restructuring of the multiple dog license is also taking place. Now, the permit will include up to 12 dogs, the suggested cost is $85, with $75 going the county and $10 going to the city. Each additional K9 over the set 12, costs $12 spayed or neutered or $22 if not. This fresh system is meant to simplify and replace the current one, which is $52 for the first dog and $5 for each additional K9.

“The county made some changes to make it more straightforward,” Ladick said.

The move will have a final vote at this month’s common council. For more info on dog licenses and animal control call 715-344-6012.