To the editor:
I’m probably not the only one who thinks that the recent drive by the Regional District of the Central Okanagan to coerce dog owners by threats of zero tolerance and $300 fines if they don’t license their dogs, to be nothing but a money grab.
If they can get owners to purchase that initial license then all they have to do is send out renewal notices annually and hopefully the money will role in.
The claim that licensing your dog will make it easier to return your dog if it strays is bogus, especially with tattoos, microchips and personal ID tags. Besides, I haven’t heard there is a big problem with straying dogs. Has anyone seen any stray cats around?
What exactly is zero tolerance? Are they going to have some bylaw officer patrolling streets and walkways checking dog walkers for a license, if not—a $300 fine? Or is it if they pick up a stray dog with no license and they happen to find the owner via a tattoo or microchip—a $300 fine.
Being a responsible dog owner I may decide to purchase licenses for my two dogs. If I do I’ll justify it by assuming that the $40 or so will go directly to the SPCA on a yearly basis, but I’ll take that into account should I consider any future donations to them. Likely though they are probably trying to recoup the hundreds of thousands of dollars it cost them for impound and legal fees in their latest debacle earlier this year.
David Blair
Peachland
