In the wake of a number of troublesome events at the Lincoln County Animal Shelter over the last several years, officials will hold a hearing July 2 to accept public comment on new fees for pets.

The hearing will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 2, in the county commissioners chamber in the courthouse in Libby.

Commissioners will hear a proposal for a fee plan for services provided by the county shelter.

The proposed fees would cover licensing, impoundment, adoption, microchipping, daily boarding and owner surrender of animals. 

The goal is to recover service costs and promote responsible pet ownership in Lincoln County communities.

Here is a look at the proposed fees:

License fees

A lifetime license fee, for a spayed or neutered animal, would be $25. A duplicate tag fee will cost $1.

An annual license fee for a spayed or neutered animal will be $5. For a pet owner over 62 years old, they could get one free license per year for a spayed or neutered animal.

For an animal not spayed or neutered, the annual license fee would be $10 per year.

All annual license fees expire June 30 each year.

Impoundment fees for a licensed animal, first offense, would be $20. A repeat offense in the same year wold result in a fee of $40.

For an unlicensed animal, the impoundment fee would be $30, and for a repeat offense in the same year, $60.

The impoundment fee for an animal not spayed or neutered, first offense, would be $30. For a repeat offense in the same year, $60.

For an unlicensed and unaltered animal, first offense, the impoundment fee would be $40. For a repeat offense in the same year, $80.

The plan calls for a daily boarding fee, which would be $20 each day. It would apply to all impounded animals at the shelter.

An owner surrender fee would be $20.

The county has had more than its fair share of animal abuse and neglect cases that have resulted in large numbers of dogs and cats at the shelter. They’ve also had several cases of pets being dumped at the shelter.

Earlier this year, McCormick resident Steven David Aver was ordered by a judge to pay $20,000 for what the county spent on taking care of his 11 dogs following animal cruelty and perjury charges.

In another case earlier this year, Sarah Jane Goodman, 44, of Post Falls, Idaho was accused of 16 felony counts and one misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals - abandoning any animal. 

Defense attorney Maury Solomon and Deputy County Attorney Lauren O’Neill worked out an agreement that saw Goodman plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals, first offense.

In late April, Judge Matt Cuffe sentenced Goodman to two one-year suspended sentences. Goodman must pay $850 restitution to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter. She must also pay fines and fees of $335.