I’ve owned several dogs in my I’ve owned several dogs in my adult life. Of course I’ve always adopted, spayed/neutered, done vaccinations, microchip, etc. But I’ve never had a license and never gave it much thought.
Recently I got a notice of citation in the mail because my dog was not licensed. I was surprised since I don’t know how the city would even know I have a dog. But apparently they know about the dog and even know her name. The dog even has an ID number. The language of the notice is threatening: pay in 21 days or it will be turned over to collections, reported on my credit, eventually be escalated to a misdemeanor, etc. I never received any prior notice.
The citation wasn’t actually sent from the city. It comes from an animal shelter organization that the city apparently uses to handle licensing. I called them and asked why I got the notice and how they even know I have a dog. They told me that it was because I got a rabies shot for the dog. I get my dog’s shots at a veterinarian, so it seems that veterinarians are reporting vaccinations to the city.
I didn’t think many people licensed their dogs, so I’m wondering if there is a wave of these notices going out. (I live in Temecula.)
In the past, I bought the vaccines and injected myself. But maybe you can’t do that anymore.
spdrun
June 10, 2016 @
3:52 PM
This should be a warning to This should be a warning to give false information to veterinarians whenever possible, and pay cash.
Hope the organization you mention will get a lot of addresses like:
Fuh Kew Naw
666 Gropecunt Lane
Intercourse, IA 22666
Tel: (202)456-1111
moneymaker
June 10, 2016 @
4:11 PM
Yes without a picture of the Yes without a picture of the dog/or a micro-chip, how would they even know if that was the dog that got vaccinated? I got bite once and it took the owner over 15 minutes to find the dogs id (he had other dogs), sadly he did not have the dog leashed and I was on public property when I was bit. I got a tetanus shot and afterwards knew that you can never really be sure if dog was vaccinated or not.
Took my dog to the vet recently and even though the dogs records showed no shots in over 5 years (got the rabies shot elsewhere) the vet took no special precautions. Wonder how many vets die from rabies? Especially being this close to Mexico, I would be a little more careful if I was a vet.
Rabies is scary stuff luckily it is rare in San Diego in domestic dogs.
pencilneck
June 10, 2016 @
2:42 PM
Harvey, a certain irony in Harvey, a certain irony in your situation is that the rabies vaccination is the primary reason behind the requirement of the license in the first place.
The risk is hugely remote, at that. Approximately 1-2 domestic dogs and cats countrywide test positive for rabies each year.
Anonymous
June 10, 2016 @
3:45 PM
Yup, it seems some of these Yup, it seems some of these animal services organizations have got a little racket going.
If the concern is rabies vaccinations, then why is a licence necessary? Extra revenue of course.
A license is only $15/year or so, but where does it go? I did some digging and what I found was interesting.
The company that sent me the notice handles Temecula/Murrieta, Lake Elsinore and a few of the smaller surrounding areas. Total population is probably about 350K. Dog ownership averages about 1 dog for every 2 people, so they handle licensing for a population of about 175 thousand dogs.
They are a non-profit so I pulled their IRS-990. And there it is: One employee making $232K per year – 10% of the entire revenue of the organization. He’s a veterinarian but this shelter is not his only gig. He also has his own private-practice animal hospital.
I picture this guy bragging at cocktail parties about how he generously “helps out” at the local non-profit animal shelter…
no_such_reality
June 11, 2016 @
7:11 AM
Good work Harvey.
The non Good work Harvey.
The non profit actually has 78 employees. One of them is sucking up over $200K.
It’s also closer to 5%, since total expenditures is $3.5M. As noted though $2.2M of that is government contracts.
That nit pick aside, yea, nice little racket going for the vet, although note that he’s the only listed person making over $100k and that for 20 hours per week (their estimated in filing). The other two work 40 and 50 hours for $30 +kand 76k. I wonder how many of the rescue organizations run on a similar model.
Yeesh. Then it sounds like it could be shady the way he went back to the SF training program when he found out he was going to be fired in LA.
Sounds like it is business as usual around there.
pencilneck
June 10, 2016 @
9:32 PM
Nice research Harvey! Nice research Harvey!
temeculaguy
June 11, 2016 @
1:41 AM
I got the same notice and I I got the same notice and I live about 100 yards outside of Temecula city limits. I called them and told them my address and they agreed that I do not live in the city, but then said i should buy a county license before I get a similar notice from the county. My name is on the house, but my fiance took our rescue/neutered dog in for his shots so the notice and collection threat was in her name. When I asked the woman at the shelter (LEAF) she said state law requires vets provide rabies vaccination data to the appointed authority. So my neighbor who has unaltered dogs with no shots will never get a violation or collection notice but I get a dog who is fixed from the pound and get him shots, I get a ticket. Why does this feel wrong? Whoever decided this will be their business process is an idiot. My advice, check the box that says you no longer have the dog and get your future vaccinations from a mail order outfit. I researched it and pet vet records have privacy rights, someone needs to file a lawsuit. I have never filed one, but in this instance I would condone it.
treehugger
June 11, 2016 @
6:36 AM
we live in Oceanside and we live in Oceanside and received a notice also……there should be another poll question: I intended to license my dog, but find a citation and a late fee insulting, plus I forgot.
spdrun
June 11, 2016 @
10:06 AM
I researched it and pet vet
I researched it and pet vet records have privacy rights, someone needs to file a lawsuit. I have never filed one, but in this instance I would condone it.
You should file one.
FlyerInHi
June 11, 2016 @
2:53 PM
I don’t think you can file a I don’t think you can file a lawsuit. State law protects them. Look at the link I posted earlier.
UCGal
June 13, 2016 @
7:51 PM
Since I adopted from the Since I adopted from the county animal shelter – licensing was part of the adoption.
I’ve kept up the license. I figure it helps support animal control – and there are some obnoxious dogs in our hood that seem to escape/get off leash – and attack other dogs (on leash). I want animal control to get them if they ever come after my dog.
Why all the concern about paying a few bucks for a pet license ? Isn’t it like $14. Plus doesn’t some of the $ subsidize running animal services.
Seems like the extra effort in dodging this nominal fee isn’t worth it.
Heck, it’s probably not worth the time I spent typing this response.
Why all the concern about paying a few bucks for a pet license ? Isn’t it like $14. Plus doesn’t some of the $ subsidize running animal services.
Seems like the extra effort in dodging this nominal fee isn’t worth it.
Heck, it’s probably not worth the time I spent typing this response.[/quote]
June 10, 2016 @ 12:54 PM
I’ve owned several dogs in my
I’ve owned several dogs in my adult life. Of course I’ve always adopted, spayed/neutered, done vaccinations, microchip, etc. But I’ve never had a license and never gave it much thought.
Recently I got a notice of citation in the mail because my dog was not licensed. I was surprised since I don’t know how the city would even know I have a dog. But apparently they know about the dog and even know her name. The dog even has an ID number. The language of the notice is threatening: pay in 21 days or it will be turned over to collections, reported on my credit, eventually be escalated to a misdemeanor, etc. I never received any prior notice.
The citation wasn’t actually sent from the city. It comes from an animal shelter organization that the city apparently uses to handle licensing. I called them and asked why I got the notice and how they even know I have a dog. They told me that it was because I got a rabies shot for the dog. I get my dog’s shots at a veterinarian, so it seems that veterinarians are reporting vaccinations to the city.
I didn’t think many people licensed their dogs, so I’m wondering if there is a wave of these notices going out. (I live in Temecula.)
June 10, 2016 @ 2:03 PM
That’s interesting. I never
That’s interesting. I never licensed my dogs. I had several over the years.
Yep, vets do have to report. Big bro is watching
http://cvma.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/RabiesVaccineReporting.pdf
In the past, I bought the vaccines and injected myself. But maybe you can’t do that anymore.
June 10, 2016 @ 3:52 PM
This should be a warning to
This should be a warning to give false information to veterinarians whenever possible, and pay cash.
Hope the organization you mention will get a lot of addresses like:
Fuh Kew Naw
666 Gropecunt Lane
Intercourse, IA 22666
Tel: (202)456-1111
June 10, 2016 @ 4:11 PM
Yes without a picture of the
Yes without a picture of the dog/or a micro-chip, how would they even know if that was the dog that got vaccinated? I got bite once and it took the owner over 15 minutes to find the dogs id (he had other dogs), sadly he did not have the dog leashed and I was on public property when I was bit. I got a tetanus shot and afterwards knew that you can never really be sure if dog was vaccinated or not.
Took my dog to the vet recently and even though the dogs records showed no shots in over 5 years (got the rabies shot elsewhere) the vet took no special precautions. Wonder how many vets die from rabies? Especially being this close to Mexico, I would be a little more careful if I was a vet.
Rabies is scary stuff luckily it is rare in San Diego in domestic dogs.
June 10, 2016 @ 2:42 PM
Harvey, a certain irony in
Harvey, a certain irony in your situation is that the rabies vaccination is the primary reason behind the requirement of the license in the first place.
http://www.sdhumane.org/what-we-do/programs/licensing/
The risk is hugely remote, at that. Approximately 1-2 domestic dogs and cats countrywide test positive for rabies each year.
June 10, 2016 @ 3:45 PM
Yup, it seems some of these
Yup, it seems some of these animal services organizations have got a little racket going.
If the concern is rabies vaccinations, then why is a licence necessary? Extra revenue of course.
A license is only $15/year or so, but where does it go? I did some digging and what I found was interesting.
The company that sent me the notice handles Temecula/Murrieta, Lake Elsinore and a few of the smaller surrounding areas. Total population is probably about 350K. Dog ownership averages about 1 dog for every 2 people, so they handle licensing for a population of about 175 thousand dogs.
They are a non-profit so I pulled their IRS-990. And there it is: One employee making $232K per year – 10% of the entire revenue of the organization. He’s a veterinarian but this shelter is not his only gig. He also has his own private-practice animal hospital.
http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2014/330/276/2014-330276892-0b7a2ffb-9.pdf
This vet is collecting more than $1 per dog every year. It adds up!
And he’s got the government going door to door doing the shakedown for him:
http://myvalleynews.com/local/murrieta-to-be-canvassed-for-dog-licenses/
I picture this guy bragging at cocktail parties about how he generously “helps out” at the local non-profit animal shelter…
June 11, 2016 @ 7:11 AM
Good work Harvey.
The non
Good work Harvey.
The non profit actually has 78 employees. One of them is sucking up over $200K.
It’s also closer to 5%, since total expenditures is $3.5M. As noted though $2.2M of that is government contracts.
That nit pick aside, yea, nice little racket going for the vet, although note that he’s the only listed person making over $100k and that for 20 hours per week (their estimated in filing). The other two work 40 and 50 hours for $30 +kand 76k. I wonder how many of the rescue organizations run on a similar model.
Here’s the stuff that’s really grating oneople, IMHO. Chief’s son gets $400k LA job
June 11, 2016 @ 5:43 PM
no_such_reality wrote:
Here’s
[quote=no_such_reality]
Here’s the stuff that’s really grating oneople, IMHO. Chief’s son gets $400k LA job[/quote]
Yeesh. Then it sounds like it could be shady the way he went back to the SF training program when he found out he was going to be fired in LA.
Sounds like it is business as usual around there.
June 10, 2016 @ 9:32 PM
Nice research Harvey!
Nice research Harvey!
June 11, 2016 @ 1:41 AM
I got the same notice and I
I got the same notice and I live about 100 yards outside of Temecula city limits. I called them and told them my address and they agreed that I do not live in the city, but then said i should buy a county license before I get a similar notice from the county. My name is on the house, but my fiance took our rescue/neutered dog in for his shots so the notice and collection threat was in her name. When I asked the woman at the shelter (LEAF) she said state law requires vets provide rabies vaccination data to the appointed authority. So my neighbor who has unaltered dogs with no shots will never get a violation or collection notice but I get a dog who is fixed from the pound and get him shots, I get a ticket. Why does this feel wrong? Whoever decided this will be their business process is an idiot. My advice, check the box that says you no longer have the dog and get your future vaccinations from a mail order outfit. I researched it and pet vet records have privacy rights, someone needs to file a lawsuit. I have never filed one, but in this instance I would condone it.
June 11, 2016 @ 6:36 AM
we live in Oceanside and
we live in Oceanside and received a notice also……there should be another poll question: I intended to license my dog, but find a citation and a late fee insulting, plus I forgot.
June 11, 2016 @ 10:06 AM
I researched it and pet vet
You should file one.
June 11, 2016 @ 2:53 PM
I don’t think you can file a
I don’t think you can file a lawsuit. State law protects them. Look at the link I posted earlier.
June 13, 2016 @ 7:51 PM
Since I adopted from the
Since I adopted from the county animal shelter – licensing was part of the adoption.
I’ve kept up the license. I figure it helps support animal control – and there are some obnoxious dogs in our hood that seem to escape/get off leash – and attack other dogs (on leash). I want animal control to get them if they ever come after my dog.
June 14, 2016 @ 8:40 AM
We’ve always licensed our
We’ve always licensed our pets.
Why all the concern about paying a few bucks for a pet license ? Isn’t it like $14. Plus doesn’t some of the $ subsidize running animal services.
Seems like the extra effort in dodging this nominal fee isn’t worth it.
Heck, it’s probably not worth the time I spent typing this response.
June 14, 2016 @ 9:49 AM
FormerSanDiegan wrote:We’ve
[quote=FormerSanDiegan]We’ve always licensed our pets.
Why all the concern about paying a few bucks for a pet license ? Isn’t it like $14. Plus doesn’t some of the $ subsidize running animal services.
Seems like the extra effort in dodging this nominal fee isn’t worth it.
Heck, it’s probably not worth the time I spent typing this response.[/quote]
Freedom from government overreach.
June 14, 2016 @ 10:29 AM
pit bull = arms= 2nd am.
pit bull = arms= 2nd am.