The final deadline for dog registration ended Thursday with a third of the known dogs in town still unregistered and their owners now facing a penalty fee.

According to the new dog license ordinance enacted earlier this year, tags are to be purchased annually on or before May 1. But dog owners had until the end of the month to register their dogs for $7 each without paying a penalty.

But, by Friday, of the 600 dogs in Marseilles with La Salle County rabies vaccinations, only 400 had city tags as well.

Effective June 1 the registrations now require a $10 penalty fee.

The dog licenses are available at the city's police department. Each silver-colored metal tag has a distinctive registration number. Proof of a current rabies inoculation must be shown before tags are issued.

Police Chief Jim Hovious could not be reached to comment on enforcement plans.

-- CHARLES STANLEY

mbureau@mywebtimes.com

815-795-2023