Wayland May End Some Dog Registration Fees At Town Meeting

WAYLAND, MA — Wayland may shift its approach to registering dogs at the upcoming spring Town Meeting.

Town Clerk Trudy Reid has proposed an article that would eliminate the $25 late fee when dog owners fail to register pets on time. A second change would eliminate dog registration fees entirely — currently $15 per fixed dog, $20 per intact dog — for any town resident over age 70, although they would still be required to get dog licenses.

Reid's warrant would also change when the town mails registration notices to pet owners. The town would combine registration notices with the annual town census mailings. That would save about $1,500, according to Reid. The due date for pet registrations would also move up from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28.

"Currently, the bylaw requirement to issue dog registration notices is too stringent, which often falls just after November elections and drafting department budgets. By using the census mailing, it gives us a more appropriate timing of registering dogs for the upcoming year," the clerk said in her proposed article.

Reid said it's possible the town could lose money from the loss of late fees, but couldn't account for exactly how much due to missing records on how many late fees are collected each year. She guessed the town might see an increase in registrations overall by eliminating the penalty, however.

The 2023 spring Town Meeting will be held May 1. The Finance Committee is in the process of making recommendations on the 2023 articles.