As someone who has been passionately involved in dog rescue for over 15 years, I have witnessed the dire situation that many dogs endure in our area. Owing to the lack of enforcement of animal cruelty and leash laws, these innocent creatures are often subjected to abuse and neglect. This situation persists because without an animal control officer, the county has nowhere to channel the funds that could be procured from these ordinances.

It is time to propose a comprehensive solution: a mandatory dog licensing law. Licensing fees could be relatively low, yet effective. The proposed fees would be: $8 per year for altered dogs with rabies vaccine, $60 per year for unaltered dogs, and an additional fee of $40 if an officer identifies an unlicensed dog in the field. The good news is that certified service dogs would have no fee. All dogs over 6 months of age would be required to be licensed. 

The revenue generated from this law would fund an animal control officer's position, thereby making the enforcement of animal cruelty and leash laws feasible. This officer could then deal with cases of animal abuse, which are rampant in our area. More importantly, this will also pave way for the county to allocate the funds in a manner that directly benefits the well-being of our canine companions.

For the love of dogs and in the spirit of our community, it is necessary that we take a stand for those who can't speak for themselves. Your signature can give a voice to the voiceless and transform our county for the better. Please sign this petition to bring about the change these loyal, loving animals deserve.