Dog license fees out of line

To the editor:

Apparently the city council is considering passing an ordinance requiring that dogs be licensed at the cost of $20 a year. I thought the fee sounded rather high, so I did some checking in surrounding communities, and this is what I found:

Fergus Falls: $10, license good for 2 years

Staples: $10, license good for 3 years

Detroit Lakes: $5 annually

Henning: $5 annually

Battle Lake: $5 annually

Perham: $10, good for the life of the dog

Menahga: $3 annually

Wadena: No licensing required

Fergus Falls, Detroit Lakes and Staples have a higher fee for dogs that are not neutered or spayed, which is a good idea, but even that higher fee is substantially lower than New York Mills' proposed annual licensing fee.

I think dogs should be licensed upon proof of vaccination. It promotes responsible pet ownership. However, I think $20 is too much unless the license is good for at least three years if not five. Why does New York Mills want to charge so much for a dog license? The article said that the current fee of $6 does not cover the cost of the tag. If dog owners pay $20 and the tag is made good for five years (we don't need a new tag every year), that certainly should cover the cost of the tag. If it doesn't, the City should shop around for a new tag supplier.

Dog owners, UNITE.

Alice Martin

NY Mills