By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Licensing your pet in Cobourg is about to become easier and more modernized with the January launch of a new program called DocuPet.
DocuPet is a leading pet-profile, lost-pet and licensing platform that will offer the town’s pet owners access to their Home Safe lost-pet service, as well as offer designer tags linked to a secure on-line profile when the license their pets.
Another innovation is the shift to 365-day licenses instead of calendar-year licenses – meaning that, instead of a license expiring on Dec. 31 of that year, it will expire 365 days after being purchased.
To make the transition from the old system easier, the town is extending the validity of 2019 pet licenses to Feb. 29. And for those without access to a computer, the Legislative Services Department will offer in-person assistance.
The town’s press release quoted DocuPet chief executive officer Grant Goodwin, explaining the importance of an effective pet-identification program for the welfare of pets.
“Keeping lost pets out of shelters and returning them to their parents is our priority at DocuPet,” Goodwin said.
“Over the past six years, we have helped thousands of lost pets get back home, but there is still the same joy in the office every time we get the news that we have another success story. We are really looking forward to helping pets in Cobourg get home safe.”
It is widely recognized that proper and efficient identification of pets is vital in protecting their welfare. Without proper and easily accessible information, a beloved pet can end up in a shelter if it goes missing.
This makes low licence compliance a problem, not only for pets and their owners but also for animal-protection teams. Across North America, an average of only 13% of pets are licensed, despite ordinances (like those in effect in the Town of Cobourg) that require it.
“We are eager to launch with DocuPet, who have a proven track record of improving pet-licensing observance through value-added services, and that’s good news for animal welfare in Cobourg,” licensing officer Angela Stewart said in the press release.
Citizens are also advised that Schedule A of the Fees and Charges Bylaw (no. 088-2017) was amended to reflect revised fees and charges for the purchase of a dog tag, which is now $20 for a spayed or neutered animal and $35 for a natural animal. The revision also eliminates the March 1 early-bird fee to make the town consistent with other municipalities within the Joint Animal Control Municipal Services Board.
For more information, visit www.cobourg.ca/dogs.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
