The City of Prince George is hiring two canvassers to sniff out unlicensed dogs in the city.
The part-time summer employees will be walking around neighbourhoods, knocking on doors to encourage dog owners to license their pets, city bylaw services manager Guy Gusdal said.
"We'll equip them with the unpaid [license] list," Gusdal said. "It's basically a public education piece. These positions are not animal control officers."
The canvassers will be able to issue dog licenses on the spot and provide basic information to pet owners about services in the city, Gusdal said. If dog owners decline to license their dog, the canvassers will not have the authority to issue tickets, he added.
Under the city's Animal Control Bylaw, the owner of an unlicensed dog can be fined $100. The dog must wear the license tag on their collar at all times.
The fee to license a spayed or neutered dog is $31 per year, or $73 for non-spayed or neutered dog. For a dog classified as a dangerous dog under the bylaw, the fee goes up to $121 per year for a spayed or neutered dog, and $303 for an unspayed or neutered dog.
Owners of unlicensed dogs also pay a higher fee if their dog is impounded.
The project is based on a pilot project from last year, which saw a part-time animal control officer canvassing previous dog license owners who had not renewed their license for the year.
"It basically covered itself in terms of cost," Gusdal said. "We got our unpaid [license list] down to double digits for the first time in years."
Gusdal said he expects the two part-time canvassers, who will be paid $17.24 per hour, will generate enough sales of dog licenses to more than cover their wages.
Currently the city spends $380,000 per year on animal control services, after revenue from fees and charges is included.
The canvassers will be going door to door from May to September, and will wear City of Prince George uniforms.
