Hartford — More than 100 owners of unlicensed dogs can expect to get a phone call from a Hartford police officer in the coming days, as the town cracks down on those who have failed to meet a state deadline to register their canines.

Hartford Town Clerk Mary Beth Hill said when the deadline passed on April 1, the number of unlicensed dogs on the town’s list outnumbered the number of licensed dogs, 422 to 384.

Over the last six weeks, the Town Clerk’s Office has sent letters and made phone calls to the 422 scofflaw dog owners on the list, reminding them to register their animals at Town Hall.

Because the deadline has passed, the fees have increased, from $9 to $11 for a dog that is spayed or neutered, and from $13 to $17 for a dog that is not spayed or neutered.

On Friday, with the number of unregistered dogs on the list down to 186, the Town Clerk’s office turned the project over to the police, who began making calls over the weekend.

The list, which is compiled from dogs that have been registered in previous years, was down to 135 on Wednesday morning.

Hill said the list is imperfect, because there is no way for the town to know whether a dog on their list has moved away, or died over the course of the past year.

“Then we feel really bad,” she said. “Once in a while, someone will call and let us know that their dog has died. If they don’t, we have no way of knowing.”

Hartford Police Chief Phil Kasten said that while the town can impose a fine of up to $100 for a first offense, the department has only issued warnings to this point.

In order to license a dog, the animal must have a current rabies certificate. If it is being licensed with the town for the first time, the owner must also bring in proof of it having been spayed or neutered to qualify for the reduced rate.

Those who would like more information about how to license a dog may call the clerk’s office at 802-295-2785.

Matt Hongoltz-Hetling can be reached at mhonghet@vnews.com or 603-727-3211.