#Middlebury #PawsCorner
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I received a notice from a city department that I have to buy a license for each of my cats. I get them vaccinated regularly, and they’re purely indoor cats, so why should I bother to pay for two license tags? – Kate J., via email
DEAR KATE: As I’ve written before, indoor pets can escape to the outdoors, which is why it’s a good idea to vaccinate them on schedule, as you’ve done. In cities and municipalities that require them, license tags provide additional identification in case your cats do get out.
Financially, it’s a good idea to go ahead and get the license tags. Several cities are cracking down on pet licensing. For example, Sacramento fines owners up to $300 for ignoring notices to license their pets – a steep increase over the initial cost of the license tags: $20 per year for dogs, $10 for cats. Broward County, Florida also has a $300 fine in place.
Chicago is sending out notices, as registration purchases dropped from 27,000 in 2011 to less than 13,000 in 2017. It offers licenses for 1- or 3-year terms. And Seattle fines owners of unlicensed pets $125, with additional fines possible for offenses like “failure to display pet license tags” (an additional $54).
Cities locate unlicensed pets through vaccination records. It’s a bureaucratic necessity, and annoying, but the tags aren’t that expensive, while the fines for not doing so can be.
Find out how to register and pay for your cats’ licenses at your city’s website. You may be able to do it all online. Check with your cats’ veterinarian as well to see if the vet’s office can help you obtain licenses.
Send your questions, comments or tips to ask@pawscorner.com.
(c) 2018 King Features Synd. Inc.
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