City sets fee for registering dangerous dogs

The City of Whitefish will now require a fee of $75 annually to register a dangerous dog.

City Council last week approved the fee after adopting in 2018 an ordinance regarding the regulation of dangerous dogs. The ordinance requires that dangerous dogs be registered within seven days of conviction of being dangerous.

While the ordinance was adopted, City Attorney Angela Jacobs says, the city never set the fee amount, but needs to do so now.

“We’ve had a couple of cases that would likely require someone to register a dangerous dog,” Jacobs said.

Dangerous dogs are deemed such after they have been found to have bitten or attacked without provocation another dog or human.

Jacobs said the registration is a means for the city to track where the dog is residing and that the owner is doing what’s required such as posting signs of a dangerous dog.

Other cities in the state charge registration fees for dangerous dogs. Helena charges $25 annually and Billings requires $100.

Some cities also require that owners maintain insurance on the dog, however, Jacobs said that would be difficult to enforce.