Unlicensed dogs lead to established fine for unregistered animals, no decision on feral cat discussion

While it rained cats and dogs in Clearwater, Monday, village trustees let the cat out of the bag during their regular meeting: They are unsure of how to handle the feral cat population.

And, instead of going to the dogs, village officials are hopeful a newly-established fine for unlicensed canines will urge residents to pay the $6 tag fee, due annually by May 1.

Discussion about dog tags, and lack of residents who pay the yearly amount, has been on the trustees' agenda for nearly three months.

Village clerk Angie Hupp sent letters to all households on June 23, outlining the outcome of the board's June 12 meeting regarding dog registration.

At that meeting, trustees approved assessing a $50 fine, per dog, on an annual basis, if the tag fee is not paid by May 1.

According to Hupp, all dogs, older than 6 months, within village limits, are required to be licensed at the village office.

According to the letter, "This includes dogs who stay indoors, remain on their property or dogs who are not owned by residents but spend a signficant amount of time being watched by residents and running around town."

Owners are required to present a copy of unexpired shot records from a veterinary clinic and pay the $6 fee.

Hupp said records and payments may be placed in the drop box at the village office or pay online and email the shot records. If the second option is used, Hupp will deliver the tags.

The license fee must be paid within 30 days of the animal turning 6 months old or being acquired by a new owner.

Per a vote of trustees, owners of any dogs not registered by Aug. 1, or May 1 of subsequent years, will be assessed $50 per dog.

A dog tag must be placed on a collar. Any dog without a tag found loose in village limits will be impounded at the village shop. Owners will be required to present the tag or register the dog prior to its release.

Owners will be required to reimburse the village if a dog is impounded more than 12 hours.

Hupp said if a dog goes unclaimed for three days, the animal will be transferred to the Antelope County Sheriff’s office for identification and/or rehoming.

Trustee Marsha Hart questioned if the village has the capacity to read an animal’s microchip if the animal has been impounded and does not have a tag.

A chip reader would cost approximately $150.

Individuals who no longer have a dog, but have previously registered the pet, should contact the clerk.

During Monday’s meeting, board chairman Kelly Kerkman said the feral cat issue has been a big issue for the past month.

“We make people register their dogs, now they want to know about cats,” the chairman said.

Trustee Cody Kester said, “I’ve received three phone calls about them.”

Hart asked if village maintenance personnel had time to trap the animals if the board decides to enforce it.

“Somebody’s going to have to do it, if you want to go down that avenue,” she said.

Trustees agreed they aren’t sure what the solution is.

Kester said he reached out to other village and city officials to see what policies may be in place.

Neligh has similar issues, according to Hart.

O’Neill has a self-funded committee that spearheads a trap, neuter and return program.

“How do we solve the problem? I didn’t create it. Be part of the solution ... we need to figure it out,” Kester said.

Discussion ensued about whether the overpopulation should be euthanized.

“Ninety percent of the community might be fine with that, but 10% aren’t,” Kester said.

“I think it would be hard to trap them,” Hart said.

According to Kerkman, trapping would be easy.

“Then what do you do with them?” He asked.

Village attorney Kyle Petersen said the cats fall into the village’s dog-at-large ordinance.

“But nobody owns the cat,” Petersen said.

Hart suggested asking village residents for guidance. Individuals who have a viable solution are asked to contact any of the trustees.