Goodness knows how many unregistered pets are running around Baltimore.
A lot of them, that's for sure.
So maybe the citiy could take a cue from Chicago, a city that's come up with a potentially genius little scheme to get folks to register their dogs.
It amounts to this: Register your dog, have a chance to win jewels.
Yes, jewels.
People who make their dogs legal beteween by March 31 have a chance to win the title of Chicago's Dog of Distinction. And the first place prize -- besides the title of course -- is a custom-designed Chicago dog tag with real rubies and topazes created by Sherry Bender of The Goldsmith, Ltd jewelers.
Real rubies! Real topaz!
In April, the city will choose five registered pups at random to compete for the Dog of Distinction title. The public will then crown the big winner.
In addition to the jewels, the first place dog gets a TV appearance, a weekend stay at the Palmer House Hilton, a photo shoot and a feature story in Chicagoland Tails magazine.
People have killed for less.
Plus, all five finalists get a place at a dog tea party at the Hilton, a ticket for a dog/owner cruise, and not one but two treat packages.
Read more about the rules here.
According to NBC Chicago, the city estimates that just 30,000 dogs are registered in a city with an estimated 560,000 to 590,000.