Animal services turns tail on plan to charge late-licence fee

Winnipeg's animal services agency has backed away from its plan to start charging fees for late pet licence renewals.

The 2017 business plan for the city's animal services special operating agency calledfor a new $4 monthly fee for late licence renewals, up to a maximum of $20.

• City could start clawing in late fees from tardy pet owners

On Friday, animal services chief operating officer Leland Gordon asked council's innovation committee to strike the late fee from the business plan.

"There's lots of challenges in regard to implementing a late fee monthlylike that," Gordon told the committee, adding that complexity led him to reconsider.

The fee also will create another barrier toward paying for pet licences, he said.

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• Some dog owners may not pony up, Animal Services says

Council's innovation committee voted 2-1 toapproveGordon's request, with Coun. Marty Morantz voting in opposition. That means there will still beno extra fees for the late renewal of dog or cat licences in Winnipeg.

Pet owners are sent areminder one month before the renewal isdue, and another reminder if they fail to do so.