Occasionally, information provided to the public and local media by the Regional District may be misinterpreted or misunderstood. As a result, sometimes a correction is needed when media stories or Letters from the public are published containing a factual error/errors.
As needed, on this webpage you'll find corrections or clarifications. Media should direct any inquiries to:
Bruce Smith
Communications Officer
Phone: 250-469-6339
Email
February 4, 2019 - a letter to the editor in the Daily Courier (Dog Licences are Cash Grab) unfortunately misses several important points.
First, the “offensive, patronizing television ad” suggested by the writer of the letter, actually receives many compliments from residents contacting the regional district. They find the ads to be both entertaining and informative, reminding them if they haven't already, to purchase or renew their dog licence.
The letter writer suggests incorrectly that the regional district has “just raised the licence fees.” In fact, the discounted annual licence fees for most dogs of $20 and $60 during January and February have not increased since 2010.
All dogs in the Central Okanagan are required to be licensed each year. If licences are purchased or renewed before February 28th, the annual cost is $20 for a dog that's spayed/neutered and $60 if not. That's a saving of $20 from the regular annual licence fees that kick in each March 1.
Finally, as for the suggestion by the letter writer that “licensing certainly has no value except to those whose salaries it pays,” the revenue generated from the more than 23,000 dog licences sold in 2017 goes a long way to offset the costs to all taxpayers for the Dog Control service and 24/7/365 operation of the regional dog pound, which provides food, shelter and veterinary care for lost and homeless dogs, not to mention the public safety role of the service including investigations into dog attacks and protection from dangerous dogs. While most dog owners who licence may never need the pound, they do receive benefits to offset their annual licence fee by having the opportunity to receive discounts/special services from businesses participating in the My Dog Matters rewards program. As well, fees contribute to the annual contribution from the Regional District to the SPCA Spay/Neuter program and other educational opportunities provided by the organization.
Learn more about dog licensing and the Dog Control service in the Central Okanagan.