Stonewall town council eyes end to dog, cat licences
Pet owners in Stonewall, Man., may not have to worry about licensing their cats and dogs much longer if town council approves a motion next month to get rid of licences altogether.
A proposed bylaw to end dog and cat licensing in Stonewall will have its first reading on Nov. 2, with councillors to vote on it Nov. 16.
Hundreds of licences are sold in the town of about 5,000 every year, but they're a waste of time and money, said Mayor Lockie McLean.
"People will have more money in their pockets, administration will have more time to deal with things that are important, and the town will be better off for it," he told CBC News on Monday.
Under the town's current animal bylaw, all dogs and cats over six months old must be licensed through the town.
Licences cost $10 for a sprayed or neutered cat/dog and $20 for an unspayed or unneutered pet, and there are penalties for a pet that's not licensed by the deadline.
McLean called the licences unfair to pet owners, especially those who forget to pay their fees on time and face penalties as a result, and a headache for town administrators to hand out reminder notices and follow up with owners every year.
He added that there will still be bylaws in place to ensure Stonewall pet owners are responsible.
