Dog licensing program only thing on Kalispell agenda

 The only item on the agenda for tonight’s Kalispell City Council work session is a discussion about whether to abandon the  city’s dog licensing program in favor of a countywide licensing program.

The Flathead City-County Health Department is proposing the countywide program to improve the ability of lost dogs to be identified and returned to their owners. 

The city and county currently have separate dog licensing programs with different mandates. The county operates the animal shelter that is used by both the county and city.

A city resident’s failure to have his or her dog licensed with the county would be a city misdemeanor. The city’s animal warden would continue to enforce licensing requires along with other animal codes.

If the proposal is adopted, the city would no longer collect license fees but would continue to collect fines for animal offenses.

The council meets at 7 p.m. today at City Hall on First Avenue East.