An increase of pet licenses for 2018 has the Lloydminster SPCA still reminding pet owners that they are mandatory.
In 2017, the SPCA saw a decrease in pet licenses compared to 2016, however so far in 2018 licenses have increased. Executive Director Jon Punshon says that a pet license is the best chance to ensure that a pet and its owner are reunited.
“Our number one goal is to make sure that these animals, if they’re an owned pet we want to get them back to their owner as quick as possible that’s our number one priority we don;t want a shelter full of owned animals.”
Currently, the SPCAÂ is offering a free microchip for every purchase of an annual pet license. For $30 a pet license can be purchased for the year, if your animal is spayed and neutered. All the proceeds from the licenses will go to the SPCA. Punshon says that a pet license is mandatory within the City.
“If the pet comes in, even if it doesn’t have a license we can scan it, if we know that the pet has a license that’s still going to reduce the fines because we can tell in our database if it has a license.”
If an animal is picked up by a peace officer the owner is looking at a fine of $75, plus an additional fine for the animal running at large without a license for $100. If the pet has a license, but is still picked up running at large by an officer, the owner will be looking at an additional $50 fine.
The SPCA has a grant of $10,000 from PetSmart Charities that gives them the ability to microchip up to 1,000 animals.