By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
January 25, 2012

Think of it as insurance, said David Park. That $10 pet license fee could save you a pretty penny in the course of a year.

Currently, only 9 percent of Kansas City pet owners have licensed their cats and dogs with the city. That means less revenue to operate the city’s animal shelter.

“Our (pet licensing) revenue is not covering our costs,” Kansas City’s Neighborhood and Community Services Director Park said of operating the city’s animal shelter.

Kansas City officials are hoping that will soon change, thanks to a newly amended city ordinance.

For those with unaltered pets, the license fee is now an annual $10 instead of $33. Originally, the city adopted the higher fee to encourage pet owners to spay and neuter their pets, but the city will now use alternative methods to encourage spay and neutering, Park said. Those with altered pets will still pay the same $10 fee.

“Lost, unlicensed pets are less likely to be returned to their owners and more likely to end up at the animal shelter,” he said.

Licensing a pet now comes with added value, which includes a free ride home program, amnesty on late fees and more.

“It provides a tangible benefit for those who license their pets,” Park said.

Licensed pets will receive a “free ride home” once a year if it becomes lost or runs away.

The animal will be returned home at no charge and the $75 running-at-large ticket will be waived. If the owner isn’t home, the animal will be taken to the animal shelter and the owner will be charged half-price on shelter fees. Pet owners will also receive an amnesty on late fees until May 1, 2012.

“Kansas City Pet Project (which operates the city animal shelter) really wants to dramatically increase the number of dogs and cats that get back home and are returned to their owners,” Kansas City Pet Project Board Member Heather Clenin said. “Pet licensing is really going to help us accomplish that. We want to make sure every dog and cat is licensed, so we have the opportunity to get those pets home.”

City Council member John Sharp said he supports the changes and added, “We think this will really improve the percentage of people that license their pets.”