What it takes to be a good pet owner

Whether you own a dog or a cat one thing is for sure, owning that pet comes with great responsibility; caring for a pet includes more than giving food, water and shelter.  Here are a few tips that can make you a good pet owner. 

1. Pet Licenses and Rabies Vaccinations – Nortonville requires all dogs and cats to be licensed.  To receive your free pet tag you just have to show proof of rabies vaccination.  Licensing your pet helps others find you if your pet becomes lost; rabies vaccinations prevent the spread of the deadly rabies virus.
2. Pet Limit Numbers - The city has established limits on the number of pets per property.  You may have up to 3 cats and 2 dogs.  If you would like more pets you may simply apply for a kennel license. 
3. Dangerous Animals – Nortonville has restriction on certain breeds of pets that are not allowed within the city limits.  For a complete list of un-allowed animals contact city hall. 
4. Respect Others, Be Respected - This may seem like common sense to some of us, but there are still pet owners out there who do not "get" it. Please help give pet owners a good name by keeping your pet on a leash or in a fenced-in yard when outdoors. Do not let them wander the neighborhood or get out of your sight.  Do not leave a barking dog outdoors; continuous barking is not only unfair to your dog; it is rude and annoying to neighbors.  Pick up after your pet; no one wants to step in or smell that "gift" your pet left behind.  Preventing pets from negatively impacting other people, animals and the environment keeps a neighborhood safe and happy. 
5. Should You Feed Stray Pets? -  It’s difficult to see hungry stray pets, but feeding them might not be the best thing to do. Animal lovers understandably want strays to have a reliable food source, but if you become that source by leaving food outside, you will be attracting even more problems. If the stray coming to your home belongs to someone in the neighborhood, report the address of where the pet lives and a letter will be sent to the home owner to remind them of the city leash laws for pets.  Here are a few facts to consider:
   • Stray cats are nearly always unaltered and will begin having litters from spring through fall by the time they are six months of age. One stray cat soon becomes many.
   • Leaving food outside will attract wildlife to your door.
   • Encouraging strays to be near your home increases the chance of someone being bitten. Stray pets are a source for fleas, hookworms, rabies, roundworms and ringworms, which can be transmitted to humans or other animals.
   • In Nortonville feeding stray animals is considered harboring, which makes you legally responsible for the animals on your property.

For more information on how to be a good pet owner contact the Nortonville City Hall at (913) 886-2060.