Applications for the 2010 Boston Dog Licenses began arriving in area homes this week. If your dog is currently licensed, you should receive the application in the mail. Under state law, all dogs must be licensed by April 1st of each year. The list of 2010 Rabies Vaccination Clinics around the state is now posted here. This includes the clinics in Boston.
(These French Bulldogs were having a nice walk on Charles Street over on Beacon Hill.)
How to Get a Boston Dog License
If your dog is not currently licensed in Boston, you can obtain a license application at Boston City Hall in room 811. Forms may also be downloaded from the city's website at Boston Animal Control.
2010 Rabies and Licensing Clinics in Massachusetts
Theses clinics offer the opportunity to have a dog vaccinated at a low cost and pick up a license at the same time. In Boston, rabies vaccinations will cost $5.00 with a further discount making it $2.00 for seniors. If you bring a current, unexpired rabies certificate, you can get a three-year vaccination for the same price. A total of fourteen Boston clinics have been announced throughout the Spring and Summer. Many other cities and towns have added clinic information to this list. The prices and restrictions for these locations vary, so check all the details.
Boston License Fees and City Hall Pick Up
Boston has a three-tiered price structure for dog licenses. It costs $6.00 per year to license a neutered male or spayed female dog. That fee jumps to $17.00 if the animal is intact, and to $50.00 with a special application needed for a Pit Bull.
To pick up a license at City Hall, you must bring both a rabies and a spay/neuter certificate and a check or money order to room 811. Many veterinarians include confirmation that the animal is spayed or neutered on their rabies certificates. Then, the one form will serve both purposes. (You can also ask your current veterinarian to issue a confirmation that your dog is not intact, if you've lost your original paperwork.) If you bring cash to room 811 they will send you downstairs to the cashier so a prepared check or money order will save time.
Mailing Your Application
Those who mail in their applications should pay careful attention to the instructions. You should be certain to include the requested certificates, a check payable to animal control and a stamped self-addressed envelope. That envelop will be used to send your dog’s license and tag to you. Once your dog is registered with the city, Animal Control will provide a business reply envelope for you to mail in your application, and you'll only have to pay the postage one way each year.
Filling Out the Forms - Details Help
One reason for licensing is to assist the Animal Control Department in reuniting you with your dog, if it should become lost of stolen. Dog guardians can assist in this process by giving detailed information on the form in the spaces where breed, and color/markings are described.
Mixed breeds should be described with the most recognizable breed first, followed by any other part of the mix that might help identify the dog. Animal Control uses examples like “Shepard/Collie/X” and “Chihuahua/Beagle/X.”
Under the space on the application for color and markings, you may want to include any ID tattoos and the location and number of a microchip, if your dog has one.
Other Resources
The animal control web page also contains many valuable resources for families with pets. These include links to a list of low-cost animal clinics, city rules and regulations that concern pets and pet adoption opportunities.
You can also download an important brochure on how you should plan to protect your pets in case of an emergency. Since many emergency shelters do not allow pets, families with pets have to make their own arrangements for somewhere to stay should it become necessary to evacuate their homes.
Want to get out and about with your dog this Spring? Here's our review of this great book of places to hike with your dog in and around Boston.
Here are more Sunday Dogs from BostonZest!
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Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2010 Penny Cherubino
