GENTRY -- Unlicensed dogs seem to be the rule in Gentry, with only 37 dogs being licensed in the city during 2014.
According to Mark Smithson, Gentry's animal control officer, all dogs within city limits are to be vaccinated for rabies in accordance with state law and are to be licensed by the city.
According to Gentry's city code (6.04.05), "The owner of each male dog, four (4) months of age or older, and each spayed female dog, four (4) months of age or older, shall pay annually a license or privilege tax of five dollars ($5) per year, the same being due on the first day of January of each year" and "the owner of each unsprayed female dog, four (4) months of age or older, shall pay annually a license, or privilege tax of ten dollars ($10) per year, the same being due on the first day of January of each year. (Ord. No. 253, Secs. 1-2.)."
To obtain a license, the dog owners must simply present a veterinarian-issued certificate of vaccination against rabies and pay the privilege fee. Licenses are available at the Gentry Police Station, 100 East Main Street.
Smithson said, last year, driving down just two of Gentry's streets, he counted more than 100 dogs not licensed in the city. The excuse most dog owners use, Smithson says, is that "their dogs never get out."
"About 60 percent of the dogs I catch," Smithson said, "are the dogs that never get out."
Smithson gave the following reasons to get dogs licensed in Gentry:
It lets the city know how many dogs there are in Gentry and also identifies the dogs and their owners so that lost and straying dogs can be returned when found.
It ensures that dogs within the city are vaccinated against rabies for public safety and in accord with state law.
It keeps the number of irresponsible pet owners in check.
It helps pay the city's cost of providing animal control, which includes picking up lost and strays, handling animal complaints, impoundment and much more.
It is the law put on the books at the request of Gentry citizens through their elected representatives. A ticket and court costs for violating the licensing ordinance will cost much more than obtaining the license.
Smithson said there is grant funding available to cities to build dog parks, but granting agencies would be very unlikely to consider an application from a city with only 37 licensed dogs.
As Gentry's animal control officer, Smithson has been charged with enforcing the city code which deals with animals, meaning he is obligated to give violators of city code a notice to appear in court for the misdemeanor violations.
Smithson said he would like to see Gentry residents comply with the law voluntarily rather than making it necessary for him to issue citations.
While there currently is no licensing requirement for cats, rabies vaccinations are required (as well as having proof of vaccination and displaying on the animal proof of vaccination) and each day an animal goes unvaccinated can be counted as a separate offense, meaning the fines and penalties can add up quickly.
More information on Gentry's code regarding animals can be found on the city website, www.gentryarkansas.us.
General News on 04/01/2015