Dog License to Kill

It’s that time of the year again. I need to pay for my dog’s license renewal. Some of the terminology in the license brochure is not very clear. For $14 the county auditor renews the license for one year. But the brochure does not clarify if this is a human year or dog year. I’m being picky, I know. Secondly, they list the rules for confining “vicious” dogs (“Dogs that without provocation have killed or caused serious injury to any person”). Frankly, it was a bit disturbing for me to learn that these killer dogs are apparently allowed to remain with their owners. Per the regulations these vicious dogs must be kept in a locked fenced yard, or a locked pen with proper signage, whatever that is (“BEWARE: THIS DOG HAS KILLED PEOPLE”?). The brochure notes that violations of the confinement regulations could result in fines and incarceration of up to 18 months. Of course the regulation does not specify who’s going to prison, the person or the dog. Or both. 18 months incarceration in dog years doesn’t seem very long to this citizen, in either case.