Cda Oks Easier Dog Licensing In 1998, Tags Will Last 3 Years, And Will Be Sold In More Places

Dog owners now can license Fido for up to three years.

By early next year, the city of Coeur d’Alene also should have agreements that mean those licenses can be obtained everywhere from veterinarians to pet shops.

The Coeur d’Alene City Council voted to extend the duration of dog licenses last week, part of an effort to make it easier for people to legalize their canines.

City officials estimate that fewer than 1,000 of the estimated 6,000 dogs in the Lake City are licensed. The biggest drawback, outside of fines and impound fees, “is not knowing who the dog belongs to,” City Finance Director John Austin said.

The Watson Agency, the city’s contract dog catcher since October, has a policy of attempting to return dogs to their owners for no charge if they can identify the owner, Austin said. A license makes that easier.

The City Council also approved its street repaving program this week. About eight miles of roads will be reconstructed, get new asphalt or a new seal coat.

Government Way, between Garden Avenue and Harrison Avenue will see much of the reconstruction work. A new layer of asphalt will go down everywhere from Ninth Street to St. Maries Avenue. Seal coats are scheduled for 54 streets, from Canyon Drive to Laurel Avenue.

, DataTimes