January 4, 2007

Happy New Year! License your Somerville dog!

It's a new year and this year Somerville's Canine Good Citizens are sporting gold dog bones—2007 Somerville dog license tags!

Did you know that the Somerville Public Library was funded in part by dog licenses? I learned that on the Someville Illuminations Holiday Tour. The tour guide on my trolley was Elections Commissioner, Nicholas Solerno. Did you miss the tour? Somerville City of Lights, a 36-page book illuminating the families and traditions surrounding Somerville's vibrant holiday light display, is available from local vendors.

Information about obtaining a dog license is available online from Somerville City Clerk's Office:

Residents of Somerville may obtain, in person or by mail, a dog license from the City Clerk's Office at the following address:
City Clerk's Office
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 625-6600 x4100

The City Clerk's Office provides dog licenses Monday-Wednesday, 8:30AM-4:00PM, Thursday 8:30AM-7:00PM, and Friday 8:30AM-12:00Noon.

The fee is $16.00 for a dog license, or $10.00 if the dog has been spayed or neutered. The City accepts checks or money orders only by mail, and checks, money orders or cash in person. Checks should be made payable to "City of Somerville."

For requests in person at the City Clerk's Office, bring the following information with you:

  • the owner or owners' name(s), address(es) and telephone number(s).
  • the dog's name, breed, color, age or date of birth, and gender (male/female).
  • evidence of the dog's most recent rabies vaccine.
  • evidence that the dog has been spayed (female) or neutered (male), if applicable.

For requests by mail, complete and submit an application, available from the City of Somerville website as a PDF file.

Here are five reasons why Strummer has a 2007 Somerville dog license:

  1. It's the law.
  2. If Strummer got lost (gods forbid), finding her, a kind soul could call the City Clerk's office (617-625-6600 ext. 4100), get my contact information and contact me so that I could bring her home.
  3. I vote. There may be as many as 18,000 dogs in Somerville, but only about 900 dogs were licensed in 2006. The owners of 18,000 dogs have more political power than the owners of 900 dogs.
  4. One of the rules for Somerville's off-leash recreational areas (OLRAs) is that dogs must have a valid license to enter the areas. Somerville's first OLRA opened in Nunziato Field in 2006!
  5. I support the government's efforts to prevent rabies. Massachusetts law requires that all dogs, cats and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies (MGL c. 140, s. 145B). Through dog licensing, the City of Somerville, like all Massachusetts cities and towns, ensures that dogs in the Commonwealth are vaccinated against rabies.
Posted by Canis Major at January 4, 2007 9:40 PM in the following categories: Canine Good Citizenship , Friends of somerville dog , Somerville