That nonstop barking at the sound of the doorbell will be a dead giveaway when Woolwich dispatches a crew in search of unlicensed dogs.

Estimating that only one in five dog owners license their pets, and in search of more revenue to fill its coffers, the township plans to hire contract workers to go door-to-door selling tags. They’ll be canvassing homes in Breslau, Elmira and St. Jacobs starting in September, director of council and information services Christine Broughton told councillors meeting Monday night.

After paying six part-time workers $10.25 an hour plus $2 for each tag sold, the township hopes to clear about $7,500 from the sale of 650 dog tags. The tags cost $25 for spayed or neutered dogs, $35 otherwise. They’re supposed to be purchased by Apr. 15 of each year or within 21 days of acquiring the animal. Typically, owners are charged an extra $15 late fee after Apr. 15, but the regular rates will apply as contract staff sells 2013 tags through September and October, she explained.

In going door-to-door, the township also hopes to build a database of dog owners, allowing them to send out annual reminders to renew the tags.

While councillors endorsed the plan, they did so with some reservations. Coun. Allan Poffenroth, for instance, expressed concerns about having workers going around to “bug for money,” while Coun. Mark Bauman suggested the township come up with a way to avoid sending people door-to-door each year.