Willow Springs Reminds Citizens of Pet Registration Ordinance

The city of Willow Springs has an ordinance that requires all dogs and cats residing in the city to be registered annually with the police department. Due to the increased number of complaints of animals running at large, the City is asking its residents to comply with this ordinance. 
Registration requires only proof of current rabies vaccination. The police department also prefers to have photos of all registered pets as well. The police clerk can make a copy of a photo or a copy of the photo can be sent via email to aglenn@willowspringsmo.com. If emailing a photo, be sure to include owner information in the body of the email. If no photo is available, the police recommend including a description of each pet during the registration process. 
Registering a pet costs $3 for each spayed or neutered animal and $5 for unaltered pets. Each registration must be renewed annually. 
According to Animal Control Officer David Hocking, Jr., the benefit of registering pets with the city is to make it easier to work with pet owners on any animal complaints. Registration can also be a useful tool to help the City locate lost pets and return them to their rightful owners.
Another benefit to registration Officer Hocking highlighted is the city’s procedure after an animal bites a person. If the animal has a registration on file with the City showing a current rabies vaccine, the animal can be released back to its owners. Without one, Animal Control must hold the animal for a ten-day quarantine. 
The process takes just a few minutes to complete in the police station. 
The registration ordinance is enforced, but the City Administration has noticed an increasingly large number of animals running loose in the city and dog bite complaints, and is seeking to educate the public about this ordinance and the consequences of violating it. 
Citations can be issued through the municipal court for animals running at large. Fines in these matters can range up to $500 or ten days in jail.