You should license your dog in the Town Clerk's Office at Town Hall - bring your dog's proof of spay/neuter and rabies vaccination! The 2019 fee is $8 if spayed/neutered and $16 otherwise.
Tips for Your Dogs Safety
* Don't leave your dog in a parked car. A 85F degree day can heat up the interior of a car to 120-130F degrees in 30 minutes or less even with the windows cracked.
* Signs of Heat Stroke: Body temperatures of 104-110 F degrees, excessive panting, dark or bright red tongue and gums, staggering, stupor, seizures, bloody diarrhea, coma.
* Water Safety: Consider protecting your dog with a life preserver made just for dogs if your dog is going out on the boat with you. If your dog is knocked off a boat or is tired/ cold from choppy water, a life jacket could save your dog's life.
* Swimming: do not allow your dog to swim in any water that you would not swim in yourself. Bacteria and toxins in polluted water can be a hazard to your dog's health. Swimming can also lead to ear infections if water gets in the ears. Check inside the ears on a regular basis looking for signs of discharge or excessive redness. If either is noticed call your vet.
* Keep your dog's kennel or dog house in a well ventilated and shaded area where your dog can avoid midday sun and heat.
* Avoid excessive exercise in hot weather as this can lead to heat stroke.
* Keep plenty of fresh drinking water available at all times.
* Poisons put out against rodents, snails, slugs, ants and other insects are also toxic to pets. Be careful to prevent your pet access to these products.
* Inspect your pet often for ticks and fleas.
*If you're feeling hot, your dog probably is too. It is much better for you and your dog to exercise in the cool of early morning or evening. In hot weather the asphalt can burn sensitive paws. Dogs can also suffer sunburn just like people. Dogs with short noses (bulldogs, pugs, Pekingese, ect) have special difficulties in the heat and should be kept inside during really hot weather.
* Always have proper identification on your pet with current address and phone number.
* Be sure vaccinations are up to date and that you take along proof of rabies if you plan to travel with your dog during the summer.
* Don't let you dog ride in the back of an open vehicle, like a pick-up truck. If you have to stop or turn suddenly, your dog could jump or be tossed out of the moving vehicle causing injury or death. Leashing your dog to the bed is not safe either, if your pet is tossed out, strangulation could occur. In addition, truck beds often conduct enough heat to burn paws.
* 4th of July fireworks: A lot of very scared animals end up at shelters after the 4th of July. Many become disoriented and lost or get hurt in their panic to get away from the noise. A frightened dog may run for hours, get hit by cars, or be injured directly from the fireworks themselves. Don't bring pets to a fireworks display, and never leave them unattended outside when one is happening.
* Don't leave your dog in a parked car. A 85F degree day can heat up the interior of a car to 120-130F degrees in 30 minutes or less even with the windows cracked.
* Signs of Heat Stroke: Body temperatures of 104-110 F degrees, excessive panting, dark or bright red tongue and gums, staggering, stupor, seizures, bloody diarrhea, coma.
* Water Safety: Consider protecting your dog with a life preserver made just for dogs if your dog is going out on the boat with you. If your dog is knocked off a boat or is tired/ cold from choppy water, a life jacket could save your dog's life.
* Swimming: do not allow your dog to swim in any water that you would not swim in yourself. Bacteria and toxins in polluted water can be a hazard to your dog's health. Swimming can also lead to ear infections if water gets in the ears. Check inside the ears on a regular basis looking for signs of discharge or excessive redness. If either is noticed call your vet.
* Keep your dog's kennel or dog house in a well ventilated and shaded area where your dog can avoid midday sun and heat.
* Avoid excessive exercise in hot weather as this can lead to heat stroke.
* Keep plenty of fresh drinking water available at all times.
* Poisons put out against rodents, snails, slugs, ants and other insects are also toxic to pets. Be careful to prevent your pet access to these products.
* Inspect your pet often for ticks and fleas.
*If you're feeling hot, your dog probably is too. It is much better for you and your dog to exercise in the cool of early morning or evening. In hot weather the asphalt can burn sensitive paws. Dogs can also suffer sunburn just like people. Dogs with short noses (bulldogs, pugs, Pekingese, ect) have special difficulties in the heat and should be kept inside during really hot weather.
* Always have proper identification on your pet with current address and phone number.
* Be sure vaccinations are up to date and that you take along proof of rabies if you plan to travel with your dog during the summer.
* Don't let you dog ride in the back of an open vehicle, like a pick-up truck. If you have to stop or turn suddenly, your dog could jump or be tossed out of the moving vehicle causing injury or death. Leashing your dog to the bed is not safe either, if your pet is tossed out, strangulation could occur. In addition, truck beds often conduct enough heat to burn paws.
* 4th of July fireworks: A lot of very scared animals end up at shelters after the 4th of July. Many become disoriented and lost or get hurt in their panic to get away from the noise. A frightened dog may run for hours, get hit by cars, or be injured directly from the fireworks themselves. Don't bring pets to a fireworks display, and never leave them unattended outside when one is happening.