Animal-control officials collaring more owners of unlicensed pets

Maddie was busted Saturday for cruising a park without a license. A $20 dog license, that is. Fine: $125.

"It was my own fault for not having her licensed," said her contrite owner, Tasha Rieckenberg, who'd just allowed the border collie a refreshing romp around Magnuson Park's off-leash dog area in northeast Seattle. "I just never thought about it."

Hoping to get more pet owners thinking about licensing, the Seattle Animal Shelter is stepping up its pet-tag enforcement efforts for the first time in years, said shelter director Don Jordan.

Since Jan. 2, the city shelter's 15 specially commissioned officers have been patrolling off-leash areas and Seattle parks, handing out mandatory $125 citations for the unlicensed.

Some 100 citations have been written.

Owners, such as Jan Hromada, are finding that $125 is just the beginning. He got a $233 ticket Saturday for having his puppy untagged and his older dog unleashed just outside Magnuson Park's dog area.

"There was a line of people getting tickets," said Hromada, who'd never seen pet owners being ticketed before.

Information

Pet-license information is available at www.seattle.gov/animalshelter/licenses.htm

Jordan cites increased city funding for the stepped-up enforcement.

He estimates Seattle is home to 125,000 dogs, and only about 20 percent are licensed. Just 10 percent of the city's 250,000 cats are thought to be licensed.

"We know there's a long way to go," said Jordan, hoping compliance will increase if pet owners understand its benefits.

Among those he cites:

• Animals found injured are more likely to be given life-saving medical care if they're wearing a license.

• License fees help increase the shelter's pet-adoption work.

• Lost pets are more likely to be returned to their owners. About 17 percent of lost dogs make it back home, compared to just 3 percent of cats.

Some owners rationalize the lack of a license by saying, "my cat is an indoor cat, " Jordan said. "But if you go down to the animal shelter, you find most cats were indoor cats."

Later this year, Seattle Animal Control will begin patrolling and handing out tickets in Seattle neighborhoods.

Tickets also will go to out-of-town pet owners whose cats, dogs (and even miniature pot-bellied pigs) are found to be visiting Seattle without proper credentials.

The stepped-up enforcement suits dog owner Pam Healy just fine.

A frequent Magnuson Park visitor, Healy thinks the animal shelter's ticketing emphasis "is good because it's all for the welfare of the animals."

The cost of Seattle pet licenses depends on the type of animal and whether it's been spayed or neutered.

Elizabeth Rhodes: erhodes@seattletimes.com or 206-464-2306