Negligent DHS Dog Owners Can Avoid Penalties
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 7, 2015 – The county Department of Animal Services and the city of Desert Hot Springs are partnering to provide city residents an opportunity to get their dog license current without facing penalties.
The dog license amnesty program will run for three months. The final day is Tuesday, March 31.
The intent of the program is to allow residents with expired dog licenses – or without any license at all – to comply with state law without facing any back penalties or late fees. All Desert Hot Springs residents owning a dog 4 months of age or older qualify for the program.
It is common for a dog owner to get a license during the first year of ownership, but get lax in following years. Recognizing this, Riverside County Animal Services worked with cities to encourage negligent dog owners to catch up – without facing fines – with the dog license amnesty programs. Successful amnesty programs were coordinated in the cities of Riverside, Jurupa Valley and Indio.
Throughout the amnesty period, county license inspectors will share the amnesty program with residents in Desert Hot Springs neighborhoods as they canvass area streets. The county will work with local media to spread the news.
A dog license is only $16 a year for an altered dog with submission of proof of a current rabies vaccination approved for use in California, proof of spay or neuter, and proof of microchip. Dog licenses can be bought at the county's shelter, the Coachella Valley Animal Campus (72-050 Pet Land Place, in Thousand Palms, 92276).
One important note: the city of Desert Hot Springs adopted the county's ordinance requiring all pets be micro chipped. A microchip can be obtained at Animal Samaritans, located right next door to the Coachella Valley Animal Campus, for just $25. Animal Samaritans' address is 72-120 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, 92276. Micro chipping and vaccinations are provided without an appointment, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Animal Samaritans' clinic.
When the amnesty period ends, county license inspectors will start enforcing state, county and city requirements of animal ownership. The state requires all dogs to be licensed and vaccinated for rabies. The license inspectors will also be reminding dog owners of the microchip requirement while walking through neighborhoods.
Taking advantage of the amnesty period can save dog owners a fair amount of money, said county Chief Veterinarian Dr. Allan Drusys. "Consider that we are not going to ding the dog owner for every year the owner failed to properly license their pet. This is a great opportunity for forgetful and negligent owners to get things back in order."
