Dog License Dollars No Longer for Attleboro's Clerk [VIDEO]

The Attleboro City Council on Tuesday voted to amend an old city ordinance that paid Attleboro City Clerk Betty Shockroo $1 from each dog license fee paid by residents to register a dog.  

The Council approved the deletion of of the Revised Ordinances of the City of Attleboro during its monthly meeting Tuesday night. 

The amended ordinance states that the Attleboro Animal Shelter is to receive one-third of the income generated by the adoption fee for both dogs and felines and $1 of every fee collected pursuant to Section 9-43. The ordinance also states that the expenditures (limited to $6,000) are to be expended by the Animal Control Officer with the approval of the Mayor and the superintendent of Parks & Forestry for the purpose of direct services for the care of animals such as medical treatment, spay and neutering animals and food for animals. 

The issue was brought to the table by City Councilor Richard Conti during the Council's July meeting. Conti said he was made aware of the by constituents who were angry that $1 for each of the more than 3,000 licenses was being paid to the clerk in addition to her $78,000 salary and not being used for animals.

"I have been and remain in support of changing the ordinance and redirecting the money to the Attleboro shelter," Shockroo said during the meeting. "I believe that supporting and passing this ordinance coupled with the request to amend the animal shelter revolving account expenditure limit to $6,000 accomplish my wishes and goals."

Several councilors, including Brian Kirby, Cherie Felos and Kim Allard, applauded the change and Shockroo's willingness to support the change by agreeing to change her salary schedule midyear. 

"I am thrilled about this," Allard said during the meeting. "I know Mr. Conti wanted it to go toward a shelter itself, but animal control only gets $8,000 a year for medical bills. This is fabulous because it goes right to the animals."

"The voters got their wish," Conti said.