Upper Freehold to offer three-year dog license
Late-fee date also expected to change to coincide with clinic
BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer

UPPER FREEHOLD - Next year, township dog owners will have the option of licensing their pets for three years instead of one.

At the June 10 Board of Health meeting, board members decided unanimously to offer the choice to dog owners. The threeyear licensing would have to coincide with the animal's three-year rabies vaccination. Puppies, which need a rabies booster after their first vaccine, would require a one-year license.

A three-year license would cost $22.50 per dog. The board decided the township would not offer a refund if an animal dies during that period.

Freehold Area Board of Health officer Margaret Jahn said Freehold Township has a three-year licensing option that is popular with residents.

Vice Chairwoman Dr. Kathy Stryeski, who ran the meeting in the absence of Chairman Dr. S. Perrine Dey, said a threeyear option wouldmean less paperwork for Animal Control Officer Mary Klink.

Jahn said the township would order two sets of tags, one for the three-year license and one for the annual license.

Stryeski asked Jahn if it would be harmful for a dog to have a three-year rabies vaccine just to coincide with a threeyear licensing cycle. Jahn said doing do would not be harmful as both the one-year and three-year vaccines contain the same dose of medicine. She acknowledged that some people are concerned about over-vaccinating their pets.

Assistant Secretary Betty Tindall said the Township Committee is in the process of reviewing its ordinances and fee schedules and wants to know if the Board of Health plans to raise licensing and kennel fees.

The annual fees for licensing are currently set at $7.50 for a spayed/neutered dog and $10.50 for an intact animal. The annual kennel fee is $25.

Tindall noted that neighboring Plumsted Township charges senior citizens $1.50 less than other residents for dog licenses.

Stryeski said the township has interlocal animal control agreements with other communities that raise more than enough money to support the animal control officer.

"I don't think our residents should have to pay more," said Stryeski, a veterinarian.

Boardmembers agreed with Stryeski to keep the fees as they are.

Tindall suggested changing the late fee date from Feb. 1 to March 1 because the township usually holds its free rabies clinic in early January.

Klink said she thought changing the late fee date would be beneficial, and the board agreed. Tindall said the Township Committee would have to pass an ordinance to change the late fee date.

Jahn said that the state collectsmost of the dog licensing fees and that the municipality gets a couple of dollars from each license. The state previously did not allow municipalities to raise prices for licensing, but new legislation allows a town to charge up to $21, Jahn said.

All of the money the township collects fromlicensing fees goes to a dedicated fund to support animal control and cannot be used for anything else, according to Jahn.

Stryeski said that as of May the township received about $8,000 in license fees. In addition, the township received "a good sumofmoney" for providing animal control services to othermunicipalities, which pays for salaries, the animal control vehicle and other items, she said.

Klink noted that there are only two active kennels in town. She also noted that the township must pay the impoundment fee and vet care bills for stray animals. She said she takes stray animals to Popcorn Park Zoo in Lacey Township, where the impoundment fee is $84 per animal or $12 per day.