Columbia County residents needing identification for their pets might soon get access to inexpensive tags through the county's Animal Care and Control Department.
County officials recently allocated nearly $2,800 for a dog tag-engraving machine for the county office at 6337 Columbia Road in Appling. Animal Care and Control officials hope residents take advantage of the chance to identify their animals and potentially save some cash and their animals' lives.
Last year, animal control agents used some method of identification, such as a tag, to return 500 to 600 pets to their owners, said Columbia County Emergency Services Director Pam Tucker, whose office oversees animal control. Thousands more pets never were claimed, and many of them were euthanized.
"We feel like if we can return more, then that's fewer that have to be euthanized," Mrs. Tucker said. "The goal is to get the dog back to its owner, and we can do that within minutes if it is tagged."
At a Community and Emergency Services Committee meeting Tuesday, county officials likely will establish a $2 fee for each tag. A resolution must then be adopted by the County Commission.
Mrs. Tucker expects commissioners to adopt the resolution in April and animal control to start selling ID tags later that month or in May.
In addition to helping pet owners, the ID tags might save money and space for animal control.
"If people have tags on their animals, we can call them right away and have them picked up instead of the animal sitting up here for days and days," said Linda Fulmer, the county's Animal Care and Control director.
On average, it costs $10 each day to board a pet at the county's shelter.
Pet owners might avoid certain fees were they able to immediately retrieve their pets.
A $30 fee is charged to owners whose pet is picked up by animal control on the first instance, with subsequent pickups costing more. A $10 boarding fee is charged to the owner for each day a pet remains at the shelter.
Some county officials discussed making the tags mandatory for some pets, but dropped that idea.
"We looked at other communities that have mandatory registrations," Mrs. Tucker said. "Not to say that somewhere down the road that might come up, but we'd really like to just have it voluntary right now."
Reach Donnie Fetter at (706) 868-1222, ext. 115, or donnie.fetter@augustachronicle.com.
ANIMAL CONTROL FEES
$2: Potential fee for a pet ID tag
$10: Boarding cost each day for a pet
$30: First-time pickup fee
$60: Second-time pickup fee
$120: Third-time pickup fee
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