Ephrata increases pet fees

EPHRATA - Dog and cat owners in Ephrata will see a $3 to $15 increase in their animals' annual license cost next year.

The Ephrata City Council approved the increase Wednesday in a 5-1 vote with Councilmember Kathleen Allstot opposing the increase.

She said the $25 fee for non-neutered and non-spayed animals would encourage her not to get a license. She added that the proposal seemed "counter-intuitive."

Ephrata hasn't updated its animal license codes for 20 years and receives about $1,000 annually in license fees, City Administrator Wes Crago said last month during a city council meeting.

The increase is expected to double the city's animal license fee income to about $2,000.

Here's a breakdown of the increases:

• The fee for spayed and neutered animals would increase from $2 to $5.

• Fees for non-neutered and non-spayed animals would cost the same for each gender at $25 each. Licenses for non-neutered animals now cost $10 and non-spayed licenses are $15.

• Room and board fees for city-impounded animals would jump from $5 per day to $10 per day.