The Wausau Finance Committee has delayed a proposal to increase pet license fees for dogs and cats due to concerns about comparable rates charged by Marathon County. The proposed increase would raise the fee for a spayed or neutered pet from $23 to $30, reducing the microchip discount from $8 to $5. This has raised concerns among committee members and residents about affordability and the potential burden on pet owners, particularly senior citizens who may rely on their pets for companionship.
The discussion highlighted ongoing financial challenges for the city’s animal control fund, which has never been self-sustaining since its inception, primarily due to the costs associated with caring for stray cats. There are also calls from residents for the city to consider lowering or eliminating the cat licensing fee altogether, especially since Marathon County does not charge for cat licenses.
Given these discussions, the committee has decided to revisit the issue at their next meeting while awaiting further information from the county.
