Sterling, Massachusetts

§ 18-3 Licensing and rabies vaccination.

A. Individual dog license provisions. A person who at the commencement of a license period becomes the owner or keeper of a dog six months old or older, which is not duly licensed, and the owner or keeper of a dog when it becomes six months old during a license period, shall cause it to be registered and numbered for the accepted licensing period. The owner or keeper of a licensed dog shall cause each animal to wear a collar or harness of leather or other suitable material around its neck or body, to which shall be securely attached a license tag in the form prescribed, and upon which shall appear the license number, the inscription “Town of Sterling,” and the year of issue. Such tags shall be furnished in the same manner as the license by the Town Clerk. This section shall not apply to a person having a kennel license or companion pet license, where it is otherwise provided by law, nor shall it apply to a person having a kennel license. The registering, numbering, describing and licensing of all types of dog licenses shall be kept in the office of the Town Clerk. (MGL c. 140, § 137, amended 1987, c. 118. The deadline to obtain an individual dog license shall be April 15.)

B. Companion pet license provisions. Any owner or keeper of one to four animals requiring licensure, being over the age of six months, being maintained in a private residence for noncommercial purposes and all of which have been spayed or neutered, may secure a companion pet license. The holder of a companion pet license shall cause each animal to wear, while it is at large, a collar or harness to which shall be securely attached a license tag upon which shall appear the number of such license, the year of issue and the inscription “Town of Sterling.” Such license shall be in a form prescribed by the Town Clerk. The Town Clerk shall not issue a companion pet license, unless the owner or keeper provides the Town Clerk with veterinarian certificates verifying that each animal over the age of six months is currently vaccinated against rabies and copies of certificates confirming the animal is spayed or neutered. The deadline to obtain a companion pet license shall be April 15.

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H. Fees.

(1) For each individual dog in the Town of Sterling, over the age of six months, an annual fee will be charged by the Town for the issuance of dog licenses as follows:

(a) Spayed females: $8.

(b) Neutered males: $8.

(c) Companion pet license: $6 per dog.

(d) Intact females: $12.

(e) Intact males: $12.

§ 18-9 Adoption.

An adoption fee of $25 shall be assessed at the time of adoption. No dog or cat shall be released for adoption as a pet without first being neutered or spayed or without a written agreement from the adopter guaranteeing that the animal will be neutered or spayed. Vaccination fees, licensing fees, and veterinary costs shall be charged and are above and beyond the adoption fee.