City sets fee for registering dangerous dogs
HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 8 months AGO
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms. With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news. | February 24, 2021 1:00 AM
The City of Whitefish will now require a fee of $75 annually to register a dangerous dog.
City Council last week approved the fee after adopting in 2018 an ordinance regarding the regulation of dangerous dogs. The ordinance requires that dangerous dogs be registered within seven days of conviction of being dangerous.
While the ordinance was adopted, City Attorney Angela Jacobs says, the city never set the fee amount, but needs to do so now.
“We’ve had a couple of cases that would likely require someone to register a dangerous dog,” Jacobs said.
Dangerous dogs are deemed such after they have been found to have bitten or attacked without provocation another dog or human.
Jacobs said the registration is a means for the city to track where the dog is residing and that the owner is doing what’s required such as posting signs of a dangerous dog.
Other cities in the state charge registration fees for dangerous dogs. Helena charges $25 annually and Billings requires $100.
Some cities also require that owners maintain insurance on the dog, however, Jacobs said that would be difficult to enforce.
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