By TARA N. MAYArgus-Press Staff Writer 5/18/06
CORUNNA — The Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners is discussing whether to require veterinarians to purchase kennel licenses through the county.
The issue was brought before the board at the Public Safety and Courts committee meeting on Wednesday. The county’s animal control ordinance requires all commercial kennels to have licenses through the county.
A kennel is defined in the ordinance as any place where animals are kept to be treated. Most county veterinary clinics do not have kennel licenses. The board discussed whether to require them to get licenses and whether to charge them for the licenses.
The kennel license fee is $25 for more than 10 dogs. A kennel inspection, which costs $50, is required to obtain the license.
Commissioner Kim Van Pelt said he believes veterinarians should be given a break on the cost of the licenses in exchange for the services they provide the county.
All but one veterinary clinic in Shiawassee County distributes dog licenses for the county. They receive $3 for each dog license they sell. “The veterinary clinics provide quite a service doingthe licensing chores for us,” Van Pelt said.
Van Pelt said he wanted to draft a resolution that would include the cost of the kennel license in the compensation for selling dog licenses for the county.
Commissioner Gerald Cole said he thought the ordinance should be enforced as it stands, and veterinary clinics should be required to pay the fees.
Sheriff Jon Wilson said he agreed commissioners needed to decide who specifically is required to get licenses and enforce that decision. “The issue does need to be addressed,” he told the board.
The commissioners decided Wednesday to bring more information on the subject to the committee of the whole meeting at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
“I think we need more information on the topic,” commissioner Jon Michael Fuja said. “And make sure we’re aware of everything here with this issue.”
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