Georgetown, Del., Dec. 1, 2009: Dog owners in Sussex County will notice a few changes when it comes time to tag Fido in the New Year.

County Council, at its Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, meeting, adopted a new ordinance that articulates the County’s authority when it comes to dogs, sets licensing fees and establishes penalties for violators. Council’s action comes after the State of Delaware in June transferred dog control responsibilities to the counties beginning in 2010.

This summer, the General Assembly mandated that all counties take over dog control by Jan. 1. Historically, the State has managed dog control statewide, but in the past two years, Sussex has provided $1.2 million to help subsidize the cost in anticipation of the transition.

County Council, meantime, awarded a one-year contract to the Kent County SPCA to provide dog control services in the county. Duties will include investigating complaints, retrieving unleashed dogs and inspecting kennel operations. Under the contract, Sussex County will pay Kent County SPCA $671,750 for one year; after the initial year, the contract allows for two one-year options, which must be agreed to by both parties.

“We believe this is the most economical and sensible approach to managing dog control responsibilities at the County level,” County Administrator David B. Baker said. “The Kent County SPCA has been providing dog control services throughout the state for the past couple of years, and we believe their experience, along with the fact that they have the resources and staff already in place, make them the most logical choice to be awarded the contract.”

With the transition, the public will see some noticeable differences in the administration of dog control, including an increase in fees to better cover the cost of providing services, Mr. Baker said. However, Mr. Baker noted that licensing fees will only generate approximately $68,000 in revenue annually, far below the total cost of dog control services.

Beginning Jan. 1, dog owners must obtain an annual license from the County by March 1 of each year for animals 6 months of age or older. For spayed and neutered dogs, the cost will be $10 annually; for non-spayed and unneutered dogs, the cost will be $15 yearly. Dogs must be current on their rabies vaccinations at the time the license is obtained. Fees would be waived for seeing-eye, lead or guide dogs and those that have previously served in a branch of the U.S. military. Other fees set by the ordinance include those for kenneling operations, which range from $60 to $200 a year, depending on the number of dogs kenneled.

All licenses will be valid through Dec. 31 each year. Owners who fail to comply with the ordinance licensing requirements could face an initial $50 fine, with a maximum fine of $100 for repeat offenses within a 12-month period.

Licenses will be available for purchase directly from Sussex County government. In the coming weeks, applications will be available online at sussexcountyde.gov, at authorized locations such as kennels and shelters, as well as at the County Administrative Offices building, 2 The Circle, in Georgetown. Applicants may submit their dog license request in person, by mail or through the online form that will be available on the County Web site.

To learn more about dog licensing requirements in Sussex County, click on the ‘Dog Licenses’ link listed under the Online Services tab of the County’s website; to read the adopted ordinance, visit the ‘Ordinances’ page, also listed under Online Services.

For questions about dog control services and licensing requirements, call (302) 855-7824.

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