Katherine Steele was flabbergasted when a Cowlitz County Humane Society officer knocked on her door last week to enforce Longview’s dog licensing law.

The officer said he understood she had dogs and knew they weren’t licensed, recounted Steele, a flight attendant who lives in the city’s Old West Side neighborhood. Then he began taking down her information, including her date of birth, she said. If she didn’t cooperate, Steele would face a $257 fine, he told her.

“I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ … I could not believe they were actually sending people door to door,” recounted Steele, 48. “Just put something on my door and leave me alone. But don’t come up and get in my face and ask me all this personal information.”

In the end, she agreed to buy the licenses.

And that was the whole point, said Rick Johnson, the Cowlitz Humane Society’s executive director.

“Our job is just to make sure that the animals are licensed,” Johnson said Tuesday. “We’re not trying to be bullies about it at all. … Some people think we target just them. We’re not.”

Since Jan. 15, two Humane Society officers have visited about 1,200 Longview homes. As a result of their efforts, more than 320 new licenses have been issued, Johnson said. When they’re done in Longview, they’ll canvass Kelso, Woodland and Castle Rock, which also have animal control contracts with the Humane Society.

“There’s a good chance that your house is going to be hit,” Johnson said.

Under Longview city ordinance, all dogs living in the city more than 14 days must have a license, which is issued by the Humane Society and local veterinarians’ offices. (Cat registration is optional).

By city ordinance, “The animal control authority may make house-to-house inquiries within the city limits as to the number of dogs owned and whether any such dogs are unregistered.” However, the door-to-door canvassing isn’t required by the city contract.

Longview City Manager Bob Gregory said Tuesday the city requires licenses so loose dogs can be returned to their owners. Licensing also ensures the dogs are properly vaccinated. Licenses aren’t a big revenue generator, he added.

“This is not about money,” he said.

However, he said, enforcing licensing laws is a lower priority for the City Council than having the Humane Society respond to animal complaints and collecting dangerous animals.

License renewal forms were mailed to dog owners Nov. 1 and were due Dec. 31. Before the grace period ended Jan. 15, a license cost $10 for spayed/neutered dogs and $30 for unfixed dogs. After Jan. 15, the license fee rose to $25 for spayed/neutered dogs and $45 for unfixed dogs. A current rabies certificate is required to buy or renew a license. Low-income residents may buy licenses at a reduced rate, Johnson said.

Owners of unlicensed dogs in the cities of Longview and Kelso risk a $257 civil infraction.

Johnson said his officers hit the streets with a list of addresses that already have dog licenses and knock on doors that aren’t on the list. It’s hard to get away with lying to an officer about owning a pet when the dog’s barking out the window, he said.

“We have people standing there telling you, ‘I don’t have a dog,’ and all of a sudden the dog runs out between their feet,” Johnson said.

Some citizens argue their dog should be exempt from the licensing rules because it doesn’t go outside. But the city ordinance isn’t written that way, he said.

No one has been slapped with the $257 fine this year because the Humane Society has been trying to work with pet owners reluctant to buy a license, Johnson said.

“Let’s just say the opportunity is there, but we choose right now not to impose that,” he said. “We just want everyone to comply.”

Related articles:

County dog license deadline is Saturday  (Feb. 24)

Dog license grace period ends Friday  (Dec. 31, 2008)