Golden – Vicious or dangerous dogs won’t be able to give Jefferson County and its cities the runaround under a proposed countywide approach.
Instead of moving dogs that cause problems from city to city, owners will face penalties and restrictions wherever they live.
Jefferson County, which will hold a public hearing on the issue Dec. 12, has proposed changes in its animal-control regulations that include microchip identification, “beware of dog” signs posted at the property’s entrance, a prohibition against transferring the animal’s ownership, and secure enclosures.
The county and its eight cities may vary on dangerous-dog details, but they have consensus on the next step: a countywide dog-licensing program that will net revenue for the Table Mountain Animal Center, or TMAC, and assist in tracking dogs.
“The unincorporated area of the county already has a licensing program,” Commissioner Kevin Mc Casky said Monday. “We’ve been waiting (on the countywide effort) until each city has passed a licensing requirement.”
Currently, the county requires an annual licensing fee of $7 for spayed or neutered dogs and $25 for unaltered dogs.
Assistant County Administrator Nanette Neelan said the county is working with the city managers to set license fees, which could rise to as much as $15 for sprayed or neutered dogs and $30 for unaltered dogs.
The program would be administered by the county, which would provide the database and two employees.
If 25 percent of city residents and 35 percent of county residents comply, estimated license fee revenues would be $518,000, with $105,000 covering costs, nearly $300,000 earmarked for TMAC capital improvements and the remainder flowing into the county’s general fund.
Neelan said the county should send out a draft dog-licensing agreement to each city in the next few weeks.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
