Sentinel staff report–
Residents in Citrus Heights will soon have the option to register their dogs with a one-time registration fee, rather than an annual fee.
The Citrus Heights City Council on Thursday voted 5-0 to treat dogs the same as cats when it comes to registration options, approving a new lifetime registration fee option for altered and micro-chipped dogs. The lifetime registration fee is now $69 for both dogs and cats, with a senior discounted rate of $57.
Cats previously had been allowed to register for a lifetime rate, but dogs had not. A staff analysis was conducted following a comment made during an October 2023 council meeting regarding dogs not being able to have a lifetime rate.
The city’s municipal code has required registration for all residents who own a dog or cat that is older than four months of age, although many residents are unaware of or disregard the requirement — as is commonly seen nationwide as well. Licensing of unaltered pets in Citrus Heights is currently $34 for a 1-year license, $68 for 2-years, and $102 for a 3-year license. Rates are less than half, if the pet is spayed or neutered.
Some discussion was made by council members regarding whether a further reduction in the fee for seniors should be considered, although a final decision on that aspect was postponed.
“A lot of senior citizens on fixed incomes, cost of living’s just killing them already, and they’re trying to decide between food and licensing their dog — they’re not gonna license their dog,” said Mayor Bret Daniels, who proposed a zero-dollar fee for seniors, but encouraged his fellow council members to agree at least on reducing the fee more significantly.
City Manager Ash Feeney said the cost is based on cost-recovery for animal services provided by the city, but said the council can set the rate lower if it chooses to.
More information about pet licensing can be found on the city’s website: www.citrusheights.net/254/Pet-Licensing
