At this morning’s Flathead County Commissioner meeting, Flathead City-County Public Health Officer Joe Russell will present an interlocal agreement standardizing dog licensing between the city of Kalispell and Flathead County.

Currently, Kalispell keeps its own records and issues its own dog licenses for $5. The Flathead City-County Health Department issues $15 licenses but stores all license numbers in an electronic database that makes getting a dog back home much easier.

In April, the commissioners rejected 2-1 a similar proposal that would have placed all licensure in Kalispell and Whitefish under the umbrella of the county Health Department. The two commissioners who voted against the agreement, Gary Krueger and Pam Holmquist, worried that consolidating the licensing would not be equal for county residents when it came to enforcing the laws and ordinances.

For Russell, who along with the City-County Board of Health has fought an uphill battle to get the licensing consolidated and standardized, this latest attempt will focus solely on Kalispell.

“The city of Kalispell thinks it’s a good idea,” he said. “All this would entail is that Flathead County issues licenses for dogs that reside in Kalispell. Not a single City Council member thought we shouldn’t go forward with it.”

Currently, Kalispell writes a hand-written dog license that goes in a ledger. If a police officer or animal control officer picks up a stray dog, they can call between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to see of the license matches the written ledger.

If a dog is picked up at night or on the weekends, it goes to the Flathead County Animal Shelter.

The county uses a database called PetPoint Shelter Management Software that allows anyone with access to the database to look up a dog with a Flathead County-issued license.

The system works, Russell said, and he speaks from personal experience.

“I get a knock on the door and I see it is two of Kalispell’s finest with my dog in their possession,” Russell said. “‘Joe,’ they said, ‘We found your dog running around.’ My back gate was open and I didn’t even know it.”

The county installs a small chip for tracking purposes when dogs are brought to the shelter.

Whitefish also issues its own licenses. Columbia Falls does not have a dog licensing program and lets the county handle licenses. Its police officers enforce city ordinances about vicious and barking dogs.

The proposed interlocal agreement would be renewed yearly and money from licensing costs would go to the county to be used for the county animal shelter.

Last year, Kalispell collected just over $1,200 in dog license fees and Whitefish brought in $940. Flathead County brought in $14,138 in dog licensing fees in 2013.

Kalispell has its own animal warden who likely would still handle animal calls. The county handles animal control in Whitefish.

Russell said he hoped the narrower scope of the interlocal agreement will be more acceptable to the commissioners.

For the proposal to move forward, both the county and Kalispell would need to adopt the agreement.

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.