The dogs are going to Bedford

Friday, March 12, 2010

BEDFORD – Only eight local dogs remain unaccounted for after officials launched a program to decrease the number of unlicensed canines.

When 800 dogs weren’t licensed by their owners in 2008, Town Clerk Lori Radke decided it was time to put a stop to the problem.

With a goal to license as many dogs in Bedford as possible, Radke launched an advertising campaign to inform residents about the importance of licensing their dogs. Through postcards, warrants for civil forfeitures and continued correspondence, the number of unregistered dogs began to decrease.

As of Dec. 31, 3,315 dogs were licensed in Bedford; only eight remained unlicensed.

“One of the things I was going to do this year was get our unlicensed dog count down,” Radke said. “Well – I succeeded.”

The town received an estimated $10,000 in dog violation fees, $8,000 more than the previous year. But Radke said that isn’t what the license program was created for.

“My goal (was) not to collect revenue, but to educate the residents on proper dog licensing,” she said.

All dogs 4 months and older must be licensed by their owners. Licenses are effective from May 1-April 30, and owners are required to provide a rabies certificate and spaying or neutering certificate when registering their dog.

The fees run $10 for a dog not spayed or neutered, $2 for a dog with an owner older than 65 and $6.50 for all other canines.

Late fees of $1 each month the dog isn’t licensed begin to tabulate June 1.

One state statute reads: “Whoever is the owner or keeper of a dog and who fails to license or renew the dog license shall forfeit $25 to the town or city clerk of the municipality in which the dog is kept. If the forfeiture is not made to the town or city clerk within 15 calendar days of the notice of forfeiture, the case may be disposed of in a district court as a violation with a fine not to exceed $50.”

Dog license applications can be found on the town Web site, www.bedfordnh.org. Applications can also be picked up at the town offices at 24 N. Amherst Road.

Kelly McGrath can be reached at 673-3100, ext. 27, or kmcgrath@cabinet.com