Should city pets be licensed?
Nov. 26, 2005. 01:00 AM

Toronto Star, Canada - Nov 25, 2005

Any discussion of pets, at least in North America, carries heavy emotional freight. And current debate over whether Toronto should raise its fees for dog and cat licences is no exception.

The Toronto Board of Health is to address the issue on Monday, with many pet enthusiasts opposed to higher fees, and some hostile to any licensing at all.

Such opposition is short-sighted.

The charm of cuddly puppies and cute kittens notwithstanding, society has an interest in limiting the number of stray animals wandering city streets, backyards, playgrounds and parks. It's a fundamental issue of human health.

Dog and cat feces can, and often do, harbour parasites, bacteria, fungi or viruses, many of which severely sicken humans. A stray cat defecating in a child's sandbox is neither cute, comforting, nor of any value to society.

Bites and scratches from a prowling animal can cause significant injury. Dogs pose the main risk, but stray cats are also a threat. A 4-year-old Woodbridge boy required 20 stitches to close the rips in his face inflicted by a wandering cat a few years ago.

Public health authorities have good reason to crack down on strays. And licensing is a good mechanism to do just that. Most communities across North America require dog licences. Many also demand the licensing of cats.

When effectively enforced and widely adopted, a licensing program enables authorities to distinguish between loose, unwanted animals and valued pets wandering far from home.

Licensing is also a way to trace, and punish, irresponsible owners who are prone to letting their pets run wild.

Local officials estimate there are about 250,000 dogs in Toronto, and an equal number of cats. But only about 10 per cent of those dogs are licensed, as are just 4 per cent of cats.

The answer isn't to toss out a law protecting public health, but to enforce it. Other cities do this quite well.

In Calgary, about 85 per cent of the dog population is licensed. And in nearby London, Ont., about 70 per cent of dogs carry official tags.

Health officials hoping to revamp Toronto's licensing system want to hire a manager and six additional animal control officers. This city of 2.5 million people, and a half-million dogs and cats, now has just one such worker.

To pay for this hiring and for an information campaign making pet owners aware of the law, health officials propose increased licensing fees. These fees vary according to an owner's level of social responsibility. For example, it now costs $20 to license a sterilized dog equipped with an identifying microchip. A licence for the same animal, unaltered, costs $60.

A $5 increase is proposed in the $20 fee, while costs in other licence categories could rise by up to $15. Compared with the cost of food, veterinary care and other expenses associated with responsible pet ownership, that isn't a great deal more to pay, spread over the course of a year. And all of the increase is to go to Toronto Animal Services.

With its different fee levels, the system gives owners a financial incentive to have their pets neutered and microchipped. All of society benefits from the resulting decline in unwanted, and unidentified, animals.

Licensing has solid benefits for pet owners, too. A licence, especially when combined with a microchip, enables the speedy return of a beloved pet — the ride home is free.

Many owners argue their animals are strictly indoor creatures, so straying isn't an issue. But an estimated one in every three dogs and cats does escape at some point, despite owners' best efforts. All should be licensed.

This issue doesn't just concern people with pets. Society needs protection, and it must ensure that dog and cat owners live up to their legal obligations. It's a matter of public health.