Animal Control News

Although this year's rabies clinic has come and gone, many of the pets residing in Hudson are still in need of their license and registration.

According to Chapter 7, Article 4, Section 7-70, of the Hudson Muncipal Code no person shall own, keep or harbor any dog or cat, which has attained the age of five (5) months, within the limits of the town without first having obtained a license.

Applications for license can be made a Town Hall with the Town Clerk.  Each applicant for license is required to pay a fee of three dollars ($3.00) for each neutered or spayed dog or cat, and a fee of ten dollars ($10.00) for each unneutered or unspayed dog or cat prior to the issuance of the license.

Applicants must present a signed statement from a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine that their animal has been neutered or spayed in order to pay the three dollar ($3.00) fee.  Applicants are also required to produce a certificate from a licensed vet showing that their dog has been vaccinated for rabies and that the vaccination will not expire during the period for which the license is issued.

Licenses issued for dogs and / or cats expire after one (1) year.  The licensing year is from January 1st to December 31st, therefore licenses need to be obtained prior to January 1 of that year.  Any dog or cat licensed in the prior year shall have until February 1 of the current year to obtain a current license.  License eligible dogs or cats brought into town during the year shall have thirty (30) days to obtain a current license.  License fees are prorated on a quarterly basis.

When proper application and payment of fees has been made, the town clerk will issue all licenses and keep a record of the date of registration, the name, sex, breed, and color of each dog or cat.  The Town Clerk shall furnish a metal tag bearing a number corresponding to that of the license issued to the dog or cat and the year for which the tag is issued.  The tags are not transferable to another animal.  If your pets tags are lost a duplicate tag may be obtrained for one dollar ($1.00).

By having your pets licensed and tagged with the town, animal identification can be made much easier when attempting to return stray pets to their owners.  This holds true in times of a disaster or emergency affecting the town.