Friday, January 06, 2017
The Dog License Blues
As recently as last year, you could get a dog license at any number of locations aside from the courthouse in Easton or Centralized Human Services Building on Emrick Blvd in Bethlehem Tp. You could also get one at The Center For Animal Health and Welfare (Williams Tp), Sandy King's Pet Supplies (Easton), Affordable Pet Center (Northampton), AVH Veterinary Group (Pen Argyl), Neighbors Home and Garden Center (Hellertown), Super Petz and Canine Grooming Shoppe (both in Bethlehem), and Mike's Bait and Sport Shop (Nazareth). But for reasons unknown to me, and this may very well be a new state rule, you know must visit the county offices or order a license for Fido online.
All dogs three months of age or older must be licensed and up to date on its rabies vaccinations. For a neutered male or spayed female dog, it's $6.50. For all others, it's $8.50. Disabled Pennsylvanians and seniors citizens get a $2 discount per dog registration. You can also buy a lifetime license. Licenses online cost $2 extra. It's called a "convenience" fee.
Though the County's"new" webpage tells you that you can get your dog license online, the supposed link is a failure, like pretty much everything else on that disaster. You can get your online dog license here.
At NorCo Council's January 5 meeting, Matt Dietz noted that some have difficulty applying online, and argued that local businesses should be offered the opportunity to sell these licenses.
"We spend a lot of money on economic development, helping these small businesses, and we did something that took business away," he complained.
"We passed a $300 million budget last month,and the biggest concern I heard about over the last few weeks was dog licenses," agreed Council Prez John Cusick.
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14 comments:
You can make your points without the insults .
Norco government is so dysfunctional they can't do anything right. First Bridgegate and now Barkgate.
Guns, dogs, and marriages should not require registration.
Bernie, I don't believe it is a state law issue. I went last week and purchased two new 2017 licenses for my dogs at the hardware store on 309 where I have been getting them for three years. But that is Lehigh County. This has to solely be a malfunction/dysfunction of Northampton County, because my coworker in Schuylkill says he purchased his at the Tractor Supply outside Pottsville.
Not in Lehigh. You no longer can get them at the county and must go to one of their contracted sites such as LC SPCA, Pet Supplies plus and a few others listed on LC site.
Why do people have to get dog licensees? I know many folks who have dogs but I don't think they have licenses.
Computers aren't my thing, but I purchased two liscenses on line and subsequently renewed them. It was an easy process. They arrived in a couple of days.
Any interest in comparing the Lehigh County Website to Northampton County's and see how that one fares?
Well, Northampton. County's web page is now pretty bad. I don't see it improving bc department heads are supposed to do the updates, and that won't happen.
Good Morning Bernie,
I called Lehigh County after reading about Northampton and was assured one may still purchase licenses at our favorite pet store. Thank you for alerting us to this issue.
As for the above author who states it is easy to purchase online, many residents can hardly afford the joy of companion ownership much less the almost $100. per mo. for Internet service not to mention the knowledge to understand how to search the Web. Northampton is harming many people and their beloved dogs with this new decision.
Lehigh county's website is just as bad. Many broken links and out of date information. When I emailed them to make corrections they didn't even know who to tell.
And if you don't get your dog a license (I myself think it's a great idea in case doggie runs off and get's lost ) who is going to come out and enforce the law? The dog catcher NOPE -- only if the boro, township, or political subdivision pays it's a fee to the dog catcher. Same goes if you want to take a lost pet or a stray to the Center for Animal health and Welfare, if your township or political subdivision is not on their list, and did not pay the fee -- they will not take the animal.
A long time ago, NOR Co's dog license fees were sent directly to the Shelter -- now they just go to the general fund, where all taxpayer monies go to die a frivolous death -- by being frittered away, for example like that new website NOR Co has !
I love that video
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