Biting Dog Retrieval Fee, Written Report/Data Supporting Establishment of Fee, Pursuant to A.R.S. § 9-499.15
The below information is provided by the Chino Valley Police Department to facilitate and provide information to support the establishment of a Biting Dog Retrieval Fee to be paid pursuant to Town Code section 90.11, as approved by Ordinance No. 17-834. The Chino Valley Town Council will consider and possibly approve the proposed new fee at its regular meeting on November 14, 2017, as noted in the Notice of Intent.
The purpose of the establishment of a Biting Dog Retrieval Fee is to provide incentive and motivate the owner of a dog that is involved in biting to deliver the dog to the Police Department Shelter or to the veterinarian facility of the owner’s choosing for quarantine, as required by Section 90.11 and Arizona state law for biting dogs. Currently staff is placed at risk when they attempt to retrieve and impound a dog that has been involved in a biting incident. The owner, by delivering the dog to the shelter, will help reduce the risk of another biting incident, stress to the animal and police or animal control officers, harm to the animal that may be incurred by use of restraints if needed, and other potential issues. The fee will only be charged if the Police Department or Animal Control officer retrieves the dog and is intended to cover the Town’s expense in doing so. If the owner brings the dog in, as required by the Code, the fee will not be charged, offsetting potential risks to Law Enforcement Officer or Animal Control Officer tasked with retrieving a biting dog.
Although notice of a decrease in fees is not required, the Town will decrease the late fee for dog licenses from $18.00 to $8.00 in order to bring the Town’s late fee into line with other area municipalities. Currently Yavapai County charges $4, while Prescott and Prescott Valley are charging $8. By lowering our late fee, it will become more uniform in the area while still providing a motivator to ensure licensing is obtained by dog owners.
Click for Notice Of Intent