The city I live in just increased its fees for dog and cat licenses. It's now $30 a year for unneutered/unsprayed pets and $20 a year for sprayed/neutered pets.
Even though these are not major dollars, there were plenty of complaints. Some people consider the increase (we were at $5) just a way to raise more money during budget cuts. Some people who keep their pet - especially their cat - inside all the time think it is unfair to make them pay at all.
Please remember that licensing your pet has several benefits for all of us:
1. It ensures that dogs have had their rabies vaccinations. Rabies is 99.9% fatal for dogs and humans and requiring proof of vaccination for a license protects the entire community. There are irresponsible owners who might not do this if it wasn't required.
2. Licenses help cities keep track of how many pets a person owns and how many dogs are in the city.
Many cities limit the number of dogs or pets any one household can have. Again, given the number of irresponsible or deranged people out there, this is a necessary limitation for community health.
3. Licenses tell the animal control officers that a dog has an owner and isn't an abandoned or stray dog. In some cities, unclaimed dogs without licenses are euthanized in fewer days than dogs with collars.
4. Licenses may have contact information about the owner, thus helping reunite dogs with their owners. If you think Fido would never bolt out your door to chase a bike runner or butterfly, you don't know dogs.
5. Licenses requires collars which enable owners to include more tags. For example, you can note any serious illnesses your dog has (e.g., diabetes) or note on the tag that you guarantee payment of emergency medical bills for your dog.
6. License fees help pay for local animal shelters and animal control officers. Yes, my city's increase is driven by budget cuts and thank goodness, my city is progressive enough to find the money to maintain our animal control department.
7. License fees help motivate owners to have sprayed/neutered dogs through the cost reduction. If owners aren't planning to show or breed dogs, having the dogs sprayed or neutered is a health benefit for the animals.
No one likes taxes or fees, but sometimes they do have good reasons to exist.
Louise Louis is a long-time dog person and operates http://www.toybreeds.com
shuttle from O'Hare Brocton .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HarePuppy TrainingPuppy training can be a trying time. The key... Read More
"On Trust" & "Paid For" for are one of the... Read More
Has your pet recently been coughing, eating less, or being... Read More
My dear owner,Thank you once again for giving me shelter.... Read More
I know there are differing opinions on the subject of... Read More
We've recently moved into a new apartment complex that really... Read More
Because your dog lives with humans, he's going to have... Read More
The West Highland Terrier is a friendly dog, and is... Read More
Almost all communities in the U.S. require at least one... Read More
Twenty-six percent of the dogs at the six Los Angeles... Read More
Every year, many cat owners decide to get their cat... Read More
For a cat, scratching is a natural, necessary act. Besides... Read More
==========The Scoop on Premium Dog Food========If you're interested in premium... Read More
Are you thinking about dog obedience school? Do you know... Read More
The first thing to realize when you are training a... Read More
When goldfish swim up to the glass of the tank,... Read More
Keeping fish as pets takes more than just feeding them... Read More
A major part of a horse's diet is hay or... Read More
BackgroundSilkworms are the larva of a moth (Bombyx mori) native... Read More
Buying a purebred dog is not something that should be... Read More
Every month I am approached by dog owners of my... Read More
Among the most well known cat lover gifts are photo... Read More
Many people are searching for different means to have pets.... Read More
Pomeranians have tiny mouths and itty bitty teeth, but not... Read More
Do I Need A Quarantine Tank?Ah, yes, the often dismissed... Read More
Chicago charter limousine service Hickory Hills ..Hamsters are soft, furry and small. They make wonderful pets... Read More
Are you thinking about getting some discus then and want... Read More
A New Understanding of AllergiesAllergies of all kinds seem to... Read More
On the surface playing Frisbee with your dog may seem... Read More
Dear Fellow Dog Lover,I assume you love your dog, or... Read More
Opening your heart to a Pomeranian can be fun, but... Read More
Let's think about this for a minute: God did not... Read More
Who let the dogs out?Remember this song which gave birth... Read More
A former coworker has a dog that had begun itching... Read More
Fleas belong to the insect order Siphonaptera. They are common... Read More
It was the Saturday morning of August 20, 2004 and... Read More
Dog Training CollarsHaving a pet means having to provide for... Read More
Are you ready for a Boxer?The answer is "no" if... Read More
What does doing natural preventative care mean? I thought vaccinating,... Read More
Lots of folks are picky about their vet, and for... Read More
Aggression behavior in a dog is a normal form of... Read More
Training Tips for a Happy and Healthy Relationship with Your... Read More
Do you really know all there is to know about... Read More
I really do not hope your are eating something, but... Read More
There may be no warning before dog worms strike.It was... Read More
One of the biggest question asked of the discus breeder... Read More
Once though of as a mere harmless but annoying pest,... Read More
Horse training can be a relatively mysterious subject to people... Read More
My dad was an avid animal lover. We grew up... Read More
Playing reinforces the bond between you and your cat.Playing with... Read More
Pet |