Select Board suspends late fee as town targets drop in dog registrations

The Brookfield Select Board voted to suspend the late-registration penalty for dog licenses through the end of June 2026 as town staff and constables step up outreach to residents who did not re-register pets this year. Chair (speaker 1) moved the motion, which carried unanimously.

"In the last few years, the number of dogs registered in this town has plummeted," Select board member Laura (speaker 2) said during the discussion, citing recent bites involving unregistered animals and the difficulty of confirming rabies vaccination status for those animals. Town staff described a recently adopted online registration module and phone lists for last-year registrants that staff will use to contact owners, and proposed a 30-day outreach followed by targeted door-knocking by constables for outstanding cases.

Board members discussed outreach options including signing up to register at the town's rabies clinic, putting inserts in tax bills, road signs and a short grace period. The board also asked staff to draft specific ordinance language that would provide a formal notification process and clarify actions available when owners fail to register after notice. Constable (speaker 4) said inspectors could perform door-to-door follow-up after staff attempts to contact owners, and warned that enforcement beyond notice may rely on state fine schedules.

The board instructed Christy and Carol (town staff) to continue contacting last-year registrants, and said constables will receive a shortened list to pursue in-person visits after June. Laura will consult with state officials and share recommended enforcement language with the board and constables prior to the next meeting.