Utah's capital city is poised to lift its two-dog and two-cat limit per household. But under the move, cats would need to be licensed for the first time. And pet owners who fail to license their animals would see fines skyrocket to $125 for a second offense, $250 for a third.

Owners that register their pets within the first six months of the new rule will receive a free microchip from Salt Lake County Animal Services.

The notion, council members seem to agree, is to promote responsible pet ownership and further reduce euthanasia cases, particularly for cats that rarely make it out of the county shelter.

"I'm excited to see some movement on this," Councilman Soren Simonsen said during a briefing Tuesday. The council will set a public hearing for later this year then likely adopt the new pet rules before year's end.

Salt Lake County green-lighted the changes in April. Officials there have since issued 386 cat licenses, nearly all with microchips, according to April Harris, interim director of Salt Lake County Animal Services. The upshot, she says, is that fewer cats have been put to death.

"We've sent some cats home, which is a big deal for us because cats don't usually make it home," Harris said. "That's a huge success for us."

A one-year cat license would range from $5 to $25 depending on sterilization and installation of a microchip. It can be paid online with confirmation of a rabies vaccination. Short-term licenses would be offered for free as an incentive, as will a free microchip for pets registered in the first six months.

Councilman Luke Garrott called the combination of incentives and penalties "spot on."

The pet measure would impose no fee for failure to license a dog or cat on the first offense. It jumps to $125 on a second violation then $250 for another.

The county animal shelter had record-high adoptions and record-low deaths in 2010. Harris notes the county also has given enforcement officers a face-lift. They now wear denim or khakis, rather than black officer gear. And they have a rescue cross logo with dog, cat and horse heads rather than a badge. "People tend not to run from us in the parks anymore," she joked.

So, do the changes mean someone could legally have 20 or 30 or 40 cats in the city? Or 10 dogs. Yes, Harris says, unless the owner is failing to provide the proper food, shelter, vaccinations and care. "We're not writing a citation for too many animals," she explained. "We're writing a citation for abuse. We still are going to enforce the law."

The fourth part of the pet revision calls for a new shelter — complete with an education facility — estimated to cost at least $5 million.

Councilman Carlton Christensen questioned the cost to the city and whether it could jack prices up on the city's animal-services contract with the county. Harris said the project still is under review and costs to individual cities are unknown.

djensen@sltrib.com