Get Healthy Carson City: Dog licenses, vaccines required for pooches

This column addresses topics related to the health of our community.

Did you know that all dogs over 4 months of age living in Carson City are required to have a valid dog license and to wear it on their collar all the time? Making sure your dog has a license is an important part of being a responsible pet owner.

A current rabies certificate is required to get a dog license. You will receive a rabies certificate from your veterinarian when you take your dog to get a rabies shot. Not only are rabies shots required to get a Carson City dog license, they are required by law for all dogs, cats and ferrets in the state of Nevada. Rabies shots are meant to keep both pets and people healthy. Rabies is a serious disease, and most people who become sick after being bitten by an infected animal never recover. Having a valid license is a good way for Animal Service workers and others to be sure that your dog has had a rabies vaccine, and can help eliminate the worry about your animal being infected with rabies if he or she bites someone.

How to get a dog license:

• Purchase a license in person at the Animal Services office at 3770 Butti Way. Office hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Download the license form from the Animal Services website, www.carsoncityanimalservices.org. Complete the form, enclose payment and proof of rabies vaccination, and mail it to:

3770 Butti Way,

Carson City, NV 89701

Licenses for dogs that have been spayed or neutered are $7 per year, and licenses for unaltered dogs are $20 per year.

A current rabies certificate is required to get a dog license.

There are other benefits to licensing your dog, too. A Carson City dog license is a free ticket home if your dog should become lost. When Animal Services workers find a lost dog that is licensed, they will bring the dog right back home. Dogs that are running loose without licenses are brought to the shelter instead, and will have to be licensed before the owner can pick up the dog and take it home. Also, there may be other fees associated with reclaiming unlicensed dogs. Having a license is peace of mind that every effort will be made to return your pet safely, should it be found by Animal Services personnel.

If you are interested in adopting a pet, visit our Animal Services Office on Butti Way, or look online at carsoncityanimalservices.org to see a list of adoptable pets at the shelter. All dog adoptions include the required dog license. Become a fan of the Carson City Animal Services Facebook page to get updates about adoption days or special events at the shelter.

For more information about other Health Department services, check out our website at www.gethealthycarsoncity.org or visit us at www.facebook.com/cchhs