Golden – Countywide dog licensing is looming, and for Jefferson County’s cities, this will be the first time Fido must be tagged.
Not only will licenses make it easier to return dogs to their owners, officials say, but it will allow the county and cities to track dangerous dogs and habitual offenders and use some of the revenue to help build a badly needed new animal shelter.
“We haven’t finalized the intergovernmental agreement yet and city councils are considering action,” deputy county administrator Nanette Neelan said. “We want to be ready to go on July 1, but it could be July 15 before everything is in place.”
On June 5, the county board will hold a public hearing to update animal-control regulations that include licensing program details.
The five largest cities – Arvada, Golden, Lakewood, Westminster and Wheat Ridge – have agreed on details, with remaining cities welcome to join later.
Since 1994, dog owners in unincorporated areas have been required to get licenses or face a $50 fine.
Annual fees will rise to $15 for spayed or neutered dogs and $30 for unaltered dogs.
The fees had been $7 and $25, respectively.
Compliance has been about 40 percent, raising $116,000 annually. Sheriff’s Commander Jeff Shrader said if only 10 percent of pet owners comply in the joint program with its higher fees, the county could raise $270,000. Revenues would increase to $540,000 if 25 percent comply.
Money will defray the cost of maintaining a database, which the county will administer, and two employees. Additional revenue would flow to a building fund for the Table Mountain Animal Center.
Neelan estimated a new center, which is about two years away, would cost $5 million to $9 million.
County and city officials have been scouring unused public property for a new TMAC site, with the northwest part of the Jefferson County Fairgounds coming up as the preferred site.
“All the players like it. It’s centrally located, has good access and water and sewer is there; it’s public land and there is a large-animal refuge already there,” said Commissioner Kevin McCasky.
TMAC’s executive director, Nick Fisher, said the center also will raise funds with an eye toward moving from a deteriorating, 30-year-old building with 13,000 square feet to a 30,000-square-foot building that meets today’s standards.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
