Clallam: Cat licensing required in new county animal ordinance

A new Clallam County animal code requires the licensing of cats and increases license fees intended to encourage owners to spay or neuter their pets.

County commissioners on Tuesday approved new animal licensing fees and a new animal code after public hearings drew support from county animal welfare representatives.

The annual license fees were set at $10 for altered dogs and $8 for altered cats.

For unaltered animals, the fee is $35 a year, as approved by the commissioners.

The new code requires that all dogs and cats of six months or older be licensed.

Ann Gilson, county Animal Issues Advisory Committee chairwoman, voiced support for a fee structure that would penalize those who do not alter their pets “because they are the ones who cost the county.”

“All of us feels that one of the most important things is to get the animals licensed and altered,” Gilson told the commissioners.

Enforcement an issue

The annual license fee for many years has been set at $5 and enforcement has been a major issue.

The Clallam County Humane Society, which recently took over animal control services from the county, is expected to promote animal licensing as a means of generating more revenues for the cash-strapped animal welfare organization.