READING, Pa. – Dog license prices went up in December, and lifetime license fees are set to rise again, while some discounted rates go away.
“Dog licenses are required, and those prices are going up this year, and in the event a police officer or agent would ask for that, you would need to provide proof of that license within the first 10 days,” said Ashley Mikulsky with the Animal Rescue League of Berks County.
Other changes involve pet shops and kennels selling or putting dogs up for adoption. They need to provide specific information about the dog. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture can revoke a kennel's license for individuals convicted of animal cruelty, and there are also changes to the dangerous dog statute.
“Animal control officers like those employed by the Animal Rescue League are no longer able to enforce the dangerous dog law statute,” Mikulsky said. “That is only now reserved for Pennsylvania state dog wardens and local police.”
Also, when taking in dogs from other states, shelters need to have an isolation plan in place to try to prevent the spread of illness.
“Any time we transfer dogs out of state, you're always susceptible to different diseases transferring state lines, especially from the South where heartworm is really, really prevalent,” Mikulsky said. “We want to make sure that dogs are being isolated and treated properly prior to introducing new diseases.”