Land O’ Lakes Pet Owners to Pay More

Land O’ Lakes dog owners will soon pay a little bit more when they go to buy Pasco County license tags for their pets.

The Pasco County Commission approved a new business plan for Animal Services that raises the fee for licensing a sterilized dog by $5 and by $10 for unsterilized dogs. Only Commissioner Jack Mariano voted against the measure during the commission’s Feb. 19 meeting.

The new business plan was created to help Pasco County Animal Services implement the Save 90% directive ordered by the commission in November. That plan calls on animal services to save at least 90 percent of the animals that are brought into the Land O’ Lakes shelter.

The new licensing fees will help fund expanded staff, a trap-neuter-release program for feral cats and other programs meant to reduce the number of animals housed in the county’s shelter.

The new fees were initially anticipated to go into effect immediately, but commissioners asked that staff take the time to notify residents. With that in mind, the plan was approved with the caveat fees won’t go up until late next month.

What do you think about the higher fees? Are you OK paying more to help increase the number of animal adoptions in the county? Share your thoughts in the comments section.