Springfield, Massachusetts

§ 110-2 Licensing and rabies vaccination.

B. Dog licenses.

(1) In accordance with MGL c. 140, § 137, any dogs aged six months or older, that are kept in the City of Springfield for more than 60 days, shall be licensed. The license application shall include: the name and address of the applicant; a description of the dog; proof of rabies vaccination; or proof of rabies vaccination exemption as defined in Subsection A of this section; and the appropriate fee.

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(10) License fees for dogs shall be as follows:

(a) Unneutered/Unspayed dog: $25.

(b) Neutered/Spayed dog: $5. An applicant for a neutered/spayed dog license shall, as a condition of obtaining such license, produce a certificate from the veterinarian who spayed or neutered the dog, or, if such certificate cannot be obtained, a receipt of a bill from the veterinarian who performed such procedure or a statement signed under the pains and penalties of perjury by a veterinarian registered and practicing in the commonwealth describing the dog and stating that the veterinarian has examined the dog, which appears to have been spayed or neutered and incapable of propagation.

§ 110-5 Restraint and control of animals; public nuisances; barking dogs.

C. The owner of a reproductively whole dog or cat over the age of six months found to be at large shall be subject to a fine of $100 per violation.

(1) The owner of the dog or cat shall have the option of paying this fine of $100 or, in the alternative, the owner may, within 10 days of the violation, have the dog or cat spayed or neutered. If the owner elects to have the dog or cat spayed or neutered, the owner shall present proof of same to the City Clerk in lieu of payment of the fine. The City Clerk, upon receipt of proof that the dog or cat has been spayed or neutered, shall waive the fine of $100. Proof requires written verification by the veterinarian who performed the sterilization that the dog or cat has been sterilized.

(2) If a reproductively whole dog or cat is found to be at large on three occasions, as documented by an Animal Control Officer, the animal shall be surgically sterilized and microchipped before being returned to the owner. The owner shall bear all costs associated with this service and the fine of $100 shall be imposed.

(3) The Chief Animal Control Officer may waive the sterilization requirement if he/she finds that the animal’s health may be endangered by the sterilization procedure (examples include an old animal or an animal in poor health).

§ 110-7 Sterilization.

The Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center shall not release a dog or cat for adoption without first sterilizing the dog or cat, except where a veterinarian states in writing that sterilization would place the dog or cat at considerable risk due to poor health.