3,000 dogs without licence

Photo: BC SPCA

There are almost 3,000 "missing dogs" in the Central Okanagan.

The regional district says 2,968 dogs were licensed in 2018, but are not licensed for 2019.

This means owners could be fined $300. 

“Bylaw enforcement staff will begin contacting owners to determine the status of the dog so that we can update our records. In the past, we’ve found about half the owners no longer have their dog – it may have died or the owner moved out of the region.... Others still have their dog(s) and forgot to renew their licence," says RDCO communications officer Bruce Smith.

"That impacts all taxpayers, as licence fees contribute to the cost of providing dog control services throughout the Central Okanagan," he adds.

Despite this, Smith says the regional district has seen a "remarkable turnaround" in licensing compliance in recent years. 

"About 30% of the dogs that come into the pound are unlicensed," says Smith. "Prior to encouraging and supporting responsible dog ownership ... that figure was 75%." 

There are roughly 20,000 licensed dogs in the Central Okanagan.

The RDCO notes a licence tag makes it easy for staff to reunite lost dogs or "at large" with owners.

Fees contribute to the operation of the pound so that food, shelter and veterinary care can be provided to lost and homeless dogs, as well as supporting investigation of aggressive and dangerous dog attacks.

Licenses can be purchased online or by using the My Dog Matters App, as well as at the RDCO office (1450 KLO Rd., Kelowna); at the Regional Dog Pound (890 Weddell Pl., Kelowna); municipal government offices and at the Kelowna branch of the SPCA.