One of the interesting statistics The Leader discovered while working on Profile, a new special section devoted to showcasing Jefferson County “by the numbers,” was the number of dogs that are unlicensed, and the financial impact that is having on the Humane Society of Jefferson County.

There are 1,165 dogs licensed in Jefferson County and an estimated 7,838 households that own dogs.

A dog license for a neutered or spayed dog is $20 for two years. It’s $48 for an unspayed or unneutered animal.

Paul Becker, president of the Humane Society of Jefferson County, is concerned – and annoyed – by the lack of enforcement of the county’s licensing laws, in part because the shelter is losing revenue. If all the dogs that Becker estimates should be licensed were to be licensed, the shelter could see an infusion of revenue to the tune of $140,000 every two years.

“As it stands, our total revenue, which includes service ranging from adoption to cremation, covers, if we’re lucky, about 50 percent of our operating costs,” Becker told The Leader.

Becker acknowledges that one of the barriers that people may have to acquiring a dog license is that dogs must have valid rabies certification in order to be licensed. And that, of course, means a trip to the veterinarian, which could be a prohibitive cost for some, including seniors and others on fixed incomes.

Perhaps it’s time to discuss the law and find a solution to people not getting licenses. Could the shelter offer rabies shots at a low cost for seniors and those with low incomes, for example, if it did get more revenue from licenses?

The county’s failure to enforce the law also needs attention. Between 2012 and 2016, only one dog owner was cited for failing to have a license. This year, Sheriff Dave Stanko’s deputies have cited two dog owners.

A reality check is in order here: Jefferson County also needs more deputies on the roads. So let’s not rush to insist deputies start enforcing the dog-license laws rather than attend to domestic-violence calls.

What should happen is for dog owners to become law-abiding citizens and license their animals. Doing so not only helps the shelter, it helps all dog and cat owners.

The shelter is where lost dogs and cats are taken. It’s where abandoned dogs and cats are adopted to loving homes.

For an animal-loving county like Jefferson County, licensing a beloved dog should be easy. The shelter should be supported.

If you love your dog, take it to a vet, get a rabies vaccine and then get a dog license.