Common sense: A little can go far

Virginia used to require car owners to have their vehicles inspected every six months.

The rationale for that schedule was that a lot could happen to a car in six months and they needed to be carefully watched. But cars are built to last these days, and no one misses the mandatory semiannual inspections.

In a few years, the chore of having to buy a dog license every year will likely become a thing of the past in Danville and Pittsylvania County.

The reason? It makes a lot more sense for a dog owner to get Fido licensed when the pooch goes in for a rabies shot. Because rabies shots are good for three years (after the initial one-year shot), doesn’t it make sense that dog licenses are, too?

Of course it does.

In Pittsylvania County, a dog tag that costs $5 for one year could cost $15 for three; the obvious benefit would be the savings of time, energy and effort to purchase the tag every year.

“It will make it a lot easier for dog owners and the treasurer’s office,” said Pittsylvania County Treasurer Teresa Easley.

Last year, the county sold 6,232 dog tags, so getting dog owners to buy one tag every three years would certainly save the county time and money.

Little things like putting dog licenses on the same schedule as rabies shots may not seem like a big deal, but simplicity is a virtue the government should aspire to.

Easley’s office is notified by veterinarians when dogs receive their rabies shot. If the dog’s owner doesn’t buy a county tag within 90 days, the Treasurer’s Office mails out a notice giving the owner 30 days to comply.

That’s a lot of work to do for 6,232 dog tags a year.

When it comes to taxes — and that’s really what a dog license is, a tax — the levy should be done as simply as possible for the convenience of the taxpayer and the efficiency of the government.

That kind of efficiency is one of many ways that the cost of government can be controlled. Changing the schedule for dog tags may seem like a small thing, but those small things can certainly add up.