Adopt a local ordinance imposing a licensing or permit fee on pets

The best efforts of Camden County Animal Control and rescue groups are successful at placing many animals in forever homes.  However animal control has had little success at reducing the number of animals being abused, abandoned, or being surrendered to the shelter. Uncontrolled breeding of dogs creates a burden on the county taxpayers and animal activists, as well as inhumane conditions for many of the animals.  Across Georgia, other counties have addressed these problems by adopting annual licenses for pets. 

Research suggests adopting pet licensing dramatically increase the chance that you will be reunited with your pet should he or she become lost;  establish ownership of your pet, especially important when a fellow citizen finds your lost pet; guarantee that your pet, family, and neighborhood are protected against rabies; provide much needed funding for the county animal control and / or shelter, which will in turn provide food, shelter, and medical care for your pet if/when he/she is lost; may help to provide access to low-cost spay/neuter services for low-income residents in your area.  Many pets in shelters were once owned, but due to a lack of identification are never reunited with their owners.  The unfortunate truth is that many of these pets never find homes and are ultimately euthanized.  Licensing your pet increases your chance of being reunited with your pet, which allows the local shelter to focus on caring for and finding homes for other pets in need.

License fees pay for many worthwhile services of the Animal Care and Control Office, such as:

Keeping stray animals off the streets and out of danger; Transporting injured animals to veterinarians for medical help; Investigating cases of animal cruelty and abuse, and seeing to a pet's general welfare; Protecting your family from the threat of rabies and animal bites; and to deliver public education and school programs. 

Mandatory pet licenses help provide better service to you, your family, and your neighborhood.

We the undersigned citizens of Camden County urge Camden County Commissioners to investigate these options and adopt a measure that will help control animal abuse, animal abandonment, and uncontrolled breeding by making it a matter of economics as well as responsible pet ownership.