DOG LICENSING ATTITUDES · 2016-03-09 · • Dog licenses are required by City of Vancouver bylaw for all dogs over the age of 3 months, and are managed by the City’s Animal Services

Questionnaire Summary November 2015

DOG LICENSING ATTITUDES

Dog Licensing Attitudes – Questionnaire Summary (November, 2015) 2

Consultation Overview

Background:

• Dog licenses are required by City of Vancouver bylaw for all dogs over the age of 3 months, and are managed by the City’s Animal Services department. Dog licensing fees benefit dog owners and dogs in various ways including:

o Helping to ensure dogs are returned to their owners if found by Animal Services;

o Helping to fund dog facilities and services (e.g. off-leash dog parks);and

o Helping to feed, house and care for lost and injured dogs and small animals

• But, of the approximately 150,000 dogs in the city, only 20,000 are licensed. To understand the motivators and barriers to dog licensing, and enhance licensing in the city, Animal Services asked dog owners about their views in an online questionnaire.

• The Dog Licensing Attitudes questionnaire ran from September 1 to November 2, 2015.

• A total of 2699 respondents completed the questionnaire, accessible in the following ways:

o Email invitation sent out to Talk Vancouver panel members who were residents of Vancouver

o Social media posts and advertisements promoting and linking to the questionnaire

o In-person intercepts at the 2015 PNE and community events

Who did we hear from?

• The majority of respondents were owners of one dog (83%). • Most respondents were female (69%), and between the ages of 30-49 (62%). • Respondents lived all across the City, but with the greatest proportion living in the

Northeast (27%) and the fewest living in the Southwest (8%). • Most lived in households without children at home (81%) .


Summary of Results

Frequency and Knowledge about Dog Licensing • Over three-quarters (79%) of dog owners surveyed report having a licence for

their dog. Twenty-one percent do not currently have a license, but of these, 10% had a licence in the past.

• Among those who have never had a licence, knowledge about the process is

mixed. Half knew that licensing your dog is required by City by-law, and only 38% knew it cost $40/year.

Reasons for Licensing and Not Licensing • Among those who have dog licenses, the most common explanations they

provided for doing so, was the safe return of their pet if it was lost, and because “it was the law”- they were following the by-law because it was required.

• Among those without dog licenses, their explanations commonly centred around

(alphabetical order): o Cost too high – unable to afford the cost/ general feeling of fee being

overpriced o Lack of benefit - lack of dog facilities/amenities in the city; fees not helping o Lack of knowledge/inconvenience: Not knowing it was required/or where to

get a licence; or difficult to complete o Lack of necessity: viewing it as unnecessary because their dog had other

identification


Perceptions of Licensing Benefits • When those already licensing their dogs considered the benefits, all of the benefits

presented were seen as having some importance. But, the benefits ranked as #1 most often, were the return of their pet if found by Animal Services (48%), and the funding of dog facilities and services (31%).

• When non-licensers considered the benefits of dog licensing, all the presented benefits were seen as potentially motivating (but overall, less so than those with licenses). For the non-licensers, the benefits ranked #1 most often, were also the funding of dog facilities and services (37%), and the return of their pet if found by Animal Services (32%). Other possible motivators non-licensers suggested, were a reduction in cost, easier ways of licensing, and more dog facilities in the city.

• For all dog owners surveyed, benefits associated with funding administrative duties

of Animal Services staff were viewed as the least important (i.e. enforcing by-law, educating the public).

Sources of information • Sources of information about dog licensing were quite varied, but with the greatest

number of respondents learning about it by word of mouth (27%), Vancouver.ca (17%) or canine facilities they frequented (16%).

Summary of Results

DETAILED QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS


Dog Ownership and Frequency of Dog Licensing

• Over three-quarters (79%) of dog owners surveyed reporting having a licence for their dog. Twenty-one percent do not currently have a license, but of these, 10% had a licence in the past.

79%

10%

11%

Yes

No - was licensed before,but not currently

No - never licensed

Base: All respondents (n=2699) Is your dog(s) licensed with the City of Vancouver?

Number of Dogs

Owned (n=2699)

1 dog: 83% 2 dog: 15% 3 dogs: 2%


Knowledge about Dog Licensing in Vancouver

• Among those who have never had a licence, knowledge about the process is mixed. Half knew that licensing your dog is required by City by-law, and only 38% knew it cost $40/year.

50%

38%

50%

62%

All dogs over the age of 3months must be licensed in

the City of Vancouver

A Vancouver dog licence is$40 including tax per year

Yes No

Base: Respondents whose dogs have never been licensed (n=302) Did you know…..?


Reasons for Licensing Dog in Vancouver

Base: Respondents whose dogs are licensed and provided an answer (n=2143) What are the reasons why you license your dog(s) with the City of Vancouver?

• Among those who have dog licenses, the most common explanations they provided for doing so was the safe return of their pet if it was lost, and because “it was the law”- they were following the by-law because it was required.


“It is unnecessary. The legal owner ship of my dog is the contract I signed adopting her from the organization which rescued her, and she is micro chipped so why an expensive piece of metal jewelry that does little to help find her if she goes missing. If she is taken whoever has can just remove it.”

“Unaware of where to get license - Procedure as to how to get a license; are personal info taken? - I thought that the cost of a license was higher - Effectiveness - if your dog is

stolen then how would a license help get him/her back

to you?”

“I do not believe it should be required when their are other

options for identification (tattoo in ear).”

“Lazy, lost my tag, don't want to go to animal control for a new one. I always renewed it when I could get it at my local pet food store.”

The following are some examples of respondents‘ explanations about why they don’t license their dog (s):

“The money that I pay for it doesn't do anything for my dog . There are hardly any off leash parks and most of the ones we do have are small and fenced. There are zero off leash trails/walks, zero poop bags in parks (every other city has them) and in the summer we have even less off leash parks.”

“$80 can't afford. I didn’t know it was mandatory. Still can't afford. Need $

for vet, food, family.”

“The closest off leash park is more than a 20 minute walk from my place of residence in mount pleasant neighbourhood. If the city increase our services in this growing area, I'll support the fee

100%.”

Reasons for Not Licensing Dog in Vancouver

Base: Respondents whose dogs are not licensed and provided an answer (n=523) What are the reasons why you don’t license your dog with the City of Vancouver?


Ranked Importance of Dog Licensing Benefits

Base: Respondents whose dogs are licensed (n =2143) Here are the beneficial ways that funding from dog licences are used in the City of Vancouver. Which of these do you see as most important and worth investing in? Rank your top five (5) starting with the most important to you.

48%

31%

7%

5%

3%

3%

1%

1%

1%

24%

19%

17%

20%

7%

8%

2%

2%

2%

8%

13%

25%

18%

13%

15%

2%

2%

4%

5%

8%

23%

9%

17%

22%

3%

5%

8%

6%

10%

13%

10%

18%

20%

4%

8%

11%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Ensures my dog would be returned tome if he/she was found by Animal

Services

Helps fund dog facilities and services(e.g. off-leash dog parks)

Funding from my dog licence helpsfeed, house and care for lost andinjured dogs and small animals

City emergency responders wouldknow to look for my dog in the event

of emergency as part of the…

Funding from my dog licence helpsallow Animal Control Officers to

respond to emergency calls of lost…

Funding from my dog licence helpsprovide adoption services to

unclaimed dogs and small animals

Funding from my dog licence allowsAnimal Control Officers to enforce the

by-laws

Funding from my dog licence allowsAnimal Control Officers to educate the

public (e.g about by-laws,…

Funding from my dog licence helps totransfer dogs from other rescues and

adopt them out in Vancouver

Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3 Rank 4 Rank 5

• When those already licensing their dogs considered the benefits, all of the benefits presented were seen as having some importance. But, the benefits ranked as #1 most often, were the return of their pet if found by Animal Services (48%) and the funding of dog facilities and services (31%).


Ranked Importance of Benefits as Motivators for Dog Licensing

Base: Respondents whose dogs are not licensed (n =556) Here are the beneficial ways that funding from dog licences are used in the City of Vancouver. Which of these could motivate you to license your dog in the future? Rank your top five (5) starting with the most motivating.

37%

32%

10%

9%

3%

3%

3%

2%

1%

15%

22%

19%

20%

9%

7%

1%

2%

4%

10%

9%

22%

18%

18%

10%

3%

7%

3%

8%

8%

21%

11%

21%

14%

2%

12%

4%

10%

8%

13%

10%

16%

17%

5%

16%

5%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Helps fund dog facilities and services(e.g. off-leash dog parks)

Ensures my dog would be returned tome if he/she was found by Animal

Services

Funding from my dog licence helpsfeed, house and care for lost andinjured dogs and small animals

City emergency responders wouldknow to look for my dog in the event

of emergency as part of the…

Funding from my dog licence helpsprovide adoption services to

unclaimed dogs and small animals

Funding from my dog licence helpsallow Animal Control Officers to

respond to emergency calls of lost…

Funding from my dog licence allowsAnimal Control Officers to enforce the

by-laws

Funding from my dog licence helps totransfer dogs from other rescues and

adopt them out in Vancouver

Funding from my dog licence allowsAnimal Control Officers to educate the

public (e.g about by-laws,…

Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3 Rank 4 Rank 5

• When non-licensers considered the benefits of dog licensing, all the presented benefits were seen as potentially motivating (but overall, less so than those with licenses). For the non-licensers, the benefits ranked #1 most often were also the funding of dog facilities and services (37%), and the return of their pet if found by Animal Services (32%).


Other Potential Motivators for Dog Licensing

Base: Respondents whose dogs are not licensed and provided a response (n =346) Is there anything else that would make you more likely to license your dog with the City in the future?

“I'd rather donate to Spca then pay the

city. People who own bikes don't pay a tax for bike lanes. Dog parks and services

should be free.”

“More advertising, as to what it does and why it should be done. I will now

start registering my dog, as I was unaware of the benefits until now. I've

also never been on the website to look this up myself, therefore it might

be helpful for pet stores and vet clinics to have pamphlets.”

“If it was an enforced law. If I was worried that I could be asked to

prove it.”

The following are some examples of the other factors respondents’ identified which could motivate them to license their dog(s).

“If I absolutely knew that the yearly cost helped to open new off leash areas I would be more

inclined to participate. But in the 10+ years I have lived here, I have not noticed more than 1 (olympic village) off leash dog

park open up.”

“Lower fees. Working with CKC to encourage the ability to have a dog in rental housing if the dog

passes its canine good neighbour test. Among other

privileges.”

“If it were cheaper and easier to get my dog licensed.”

“Do it online(maybe you can but I don't know). Smaller

tags or options for different kinds. I don't like multiple tags on my dogs collar,

they're noisy especially in apartment hall ways.”


Base: All respondents (n=2699) Where did you hear about dog licensing for the City of Vancouver?

27%

17%

16%

9%

9%

4%

3%

2%

2%

1%

1%

26%

Family/Friend (word of mouth)

Vancouver.ca

Canine Facilities (e.g. Vet/Doggie Daycare/Groomers/Dog Walkers…)

Animal Control Officer

Social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter)

This questionnaire

City of Vancouver event

Community event

Community Centre/Library/City Hall

Through building/property manager

Website other than vancouver.ca

Other

Sources of Information about Dog Licensing in Vancouver

• Sources of information about dog licensing were quite varied, but with the greatest numbers of respondents learning about it by word of mouth (27%), Vancouver.ca (17%) or canine facilities they frequented (16%).

DEMOGRAPHICS


Demographics

Base: All respondents (n=2699)

Age

0%

20%

40%

22%

12%

5%

1%

19 or under

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70+

Gender

69%

23%

1%

1%

6%

Female

Male

Transgender

Other/ None of the above I identifyas...

Prefer not to say


Demographics

Base: All respondents (n=2699)

Residential Zone

20%

27%

19%

19%

8%

7%

Downtown and West End

Northeast

Northwest

Southeast

Southwest

Not found in COV Postal Codes

Children in Household under 18 years

19%

81%

Yes

No

Documents

DOG LICENSING ATTITUDES · 2016-03-09 · • Dog licenses are required by City of Vancouver bylaw for all dogs over the age of 3 months, and are managed by the City’s Animal Services