An unconstitutional power grab by local dog wardens: Dog wardens knocking on doors; unlicensed canines or unresponsive residents fetch hefty fines

04/03/2014

What's next, drones?


Dogs aren't getting away with being unlicensed this year, as dog 
wardens are on the lookout for canines without their yearly tags.
- CASEY KREIDER

A dog license costs less than $9 a year — less if your dog is spayed or neutered.

“With the amount of money you pay for court costs alone, you could license your dog for the life of that dog,” said Kristen Donmoyer, director of dog law enforcement for the state Department of Agriculture.

“Licensing your dog is much cheaper than getting caught without one.”

March, Donmoyer said, was Dog License Awareness Month in Pennsylvania, and the department did its best to spread the word about the importance of licensing canine companions.

Now that it’s April, local dog wardens, animal enforcement officers and police are stepping up enforcement of licensing laws.

That means they’re going door to door, asking residents if they have a dog and, if so, if they have a current license.

All dogs 3 months of age or older must be licensed.

“Not only is it the law, it’s also the quickest and safest way to reunite a pet with its owner,” Donmoyer said.

Wardens also ask dog owners if they are up to date on the rabies vaccine, she said.

While they might not rap on every door in Lancaster County, Donmoyer said wardens use records from previous years to see who has had dogs in the past.

“We can see how many licenses were sold and who did not renew their license from year to year,” she said. “We use those reports to isolate the areas where we want to focus our canvassing effort.”

Wardens also look for external signs of a canine pal — a dog house or dog run, for instance, or even the sound of barking. Neighbors, too, are usually quick to tell wardens who in the neighborhood has a dog.

If no one answers the door, wardens will leave a card with a request for information.

“If they don’t return that to us, they can get a citation,” Donmoyer said.

Wardens also may check boarding facilities.

Fines range from $50 to $300, plus court costs, she said.

Licenses cost $8.45 — less if the owner is a senior citizen or if the dog is fixed.

A lifetime dog license — which is only available if the dog has either an identifying tattoo or a microchip — costs $51.45, or $31.45 for a fixed dog.

“Dogs are our pets. They’re our family,” Donmoyer said. “If your dog is lost and it’s not wearing a license or tag, you might never get that dog back.

“Shelters are only required to hold your dog for 48 hours if it comes in without a license. After that, it could be adopted out, or it could be euthanized.”

Wardens wear uniforms and always carry a badge to identify themselves, Donmoyer noted. Anyone who is concerned about a person at their door should call the police.

Dog wardens in Lancaster County are Travis Hess and Richard Hess (not related), and the city’s animal enforcement officer is Karen Dinkel.

Dog licenses can be purchased online at padoglicense.com. They’re also available at the county treasurer's office at 150 N. Queen St., or at one of more than 20 bonded retailers that sell the licenses, including area pet stores, feed stores and hardware stores.

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