Dog License Fee Hike Approved By Diamond Bar Council

DIAMOND BAR, CA — Pet owners will have to pay more in dog licenses beginning July after the Diamond Bar City Council renewed its agreement with the Inland Valley Humane Society during Tuesday’s meeting.

The contract is estimated to cost the city $480,000 in the first fiscal year of its implementation, but revenue raised from pet licenses and other fees is expected to bring that down to around $285,000, according to the city manager’s report. The city’s agreement with the humane society will last through the end of June 2023.

As part of the agreement, several fee hikes have been implemented for dog licenses and animal impounding.

Owners of a dog that has been fixed can now expect to pay $30 for a license; previously the cost was $20. Active military and veterans only have to pay $10. The license fee for unfixed dogs remains $100.

Officials also approved adding a $125 fee for dogs considered potentially dangerous, on top of requiring a dog be licensed.

Councilman Steve Tye questioned what is considered a potentially dangerous dog during the meeting, asking whether it meant a particular breed or one that has a “proclivity for abusing people and other animals.”

The determination is ultimately made by the humane society, which will examine a dog and assess if its owner should pay the fine, according to City Attorney David DeBerry.

“It’s a very specific process set up in state law. It’s not like someone can say I don’t like that particular breed of dog,” he said.

If a dog is picked up by the humane society, owners can now expect to pay $30 for the first offense if the dog is fixed and $50 if it’s not. Second offenses will cost $70 for fixed dogs and $100 for unfixed dogs. The third offense will be $120 for both fixed and unfixed animals.

The impound fee for cats, regardless of if they’re fixed, remains at $5.

The purpose of the impound increases is to encourage owners to be more responsible with the dogs to prevent them from getting loose, according to Anthony Santos, an assistant to the city manager.

“It does cost a lot of money to recover pets,” he said. “Inland Valley Humane Society tries to collec them in a safe manner.”

Cat and dog owners can expect to pay $10 each day the human society holds onto their animals for food and care. A $20 per day fee will be imposed on animals being held under observation after biting another animal or person.

The fee for owners wanting to give up their cat or dog to the humane society will also see a $20 hike, going up to $40.

Visit the humane society's website or call (909) 623-9777 for more information about the licensing fees.