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Oak Harbor reports increase in pet licensing after contract with Whidbey Animals Improvement Foundation
Summary
City finance staff and WAIF presented a required contract report showing higher licensing rates and revenue after WAIF began administering Oak Harbor's animal licensing system in August 2024, citing online access and weekend locations as drivers.
The City of Oak Harbor and the Whidbey Animals Improvement Foundation (WAIF) presented a contract-required annual report on April 22 showing improved pet-license compliance and increased licensing revenue since WAIF took over licensing services in August 2024.
Chaz Webster, Oak Harbor finance manager, said the city entered a three-year contract with WAIF in June 2024 for the foundation to administer animal licensing. Webster said WAIF now provides in-person licensing at two physical locations (the Coupeville Bridal Shelter and the Oak Harbor Cat Center) and an online portal available 24/7. "The contract was signed in June of last year. It is a 3 year contract," Webster said. He added the report is required by the contract and contains statistics about service delivery and compliance.
Cinnamon Hudgins, WAIF executive director, presented data to council showing an increase in licensed animals and revenues. Hudgins said licensing compliance climbed nearly 4 percent and that licensing revenue rose about 31 percent over 2023–2024 trends, with current 2025 trends projecting potentially larger increases. She credited the 24/7 online option and added weekend in-person availability for improving compliance and reducing late penalties.
During Q&A, council members and staff discussed outreach and enforcement. Council member Wiesner recommended broad outreach to residents and suggested printing the licensing website information on utility bills to increase voluntary compliance. Hudgins and Webster said WAIF can send reminders starting after a full operational year and that outreach to veterinarians (QR codes or collateral at clinics) is being considered. Webster also explained that WAIF does not currently link microchip records directly into the licensing database and that microchip information is stored separately.
On enforcement, Oak Harbor staff clarified that many citations for unlicensed pets arise during dog-bite investigations. The city’s animal control officer — not WAIF — manages the dangerous- or potentially dangerous-dog list and associated requirements such as liability insurance and owner education under local code. Webster said the city enforces a household limit of three cats or three dogs over four months of age, and that rabies vaccination proof is required for license issuance.
Ending: The report was informational; the council and staff discussed outreach, reminder strategies, and potential partnerships with veterinarians to further increase voluntary compliance. No formal action was taken at the workshop.
