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Show Dec 7, 1995 All pets im base housing must be registered in '96 by Jay Joersz Hilltop Times staff Pet owners at Hill AFB need to sit up and take notice of changes regarding pet registration on base. Beginning Jan. 1, 1996, base residents who are maintaining animals on base will need to register the pets with the Davis County Department of Animal Control within 30 days of arriving on base. All licenses will be renewed annually. Those already living on base with animals will have 90 days (from Jan. 1) to register their pets with Davis County. Contrary to what had previously been announced to pet owners, this requirement also includes those owners who have already registered the animals with the base veterinary clinic However, for those owners who have paid the base registration fee, it will be applied toward the cost of the new license, if your animal is registered with Davis County by April 1, 19. The reason for the change is part of a "get tough" stance toward pet owners on base who in the past have re-fused to license their pets.vAccording to base veterinary clinic officials, there really was no way in the past to enforce the regulation, so they called in Davis County to help out. Davis County Animal Control was eager to jump in. "We're going to take away the e and job of enforcing animal registration," said Dee Anne Hess, director of Animal Control for Davis County. "That should be our responsibility, that's our job. It's really not fair or efficient to have two systems." In addition, Davis County has been given the rights to enforce their registration policy on base. In the past, when Davis County officials have impounded unregistered animals, they had to release them back to the base. However, now animals will not be released until they are registered and other fees have been paid. Hill base housing officials also give their nod of approval to the new arrangement. "Animals are the biggest problem in the housing area," said Bob Waite, Housing Office manager. "I see this as a real good thing to help alleviate feelings that nothing is being done. It will give us a bigger stick to help clean up the problem." Hess added that she has always felt that Hill residents should not be treated any differently when it comes to animals than those off base. by A.B. Russell Hilltop Times staff A cute, fuzzy puppy or kitten on Christmas morning might bring cheery smiles to the children's faces, but if it's the wrong pet for the family, it could be the gift that takes away rather'than keeps giving. All the things that make military life different from civilian life also make owning a pet different. It's important to give careful consideration to buying someone a pet or for any time of for Christmas so that you don't get a gift year that's just not right. "A pet is not a disposable item to provide temporary pleasure. A pet should be considered something that (the owners) are obligated to care for the duration of its life. Considering that a pet's average lifespan is somewhere around 10 to 12 years, that is a commitment rather than a whimsical purchase," said Capt. David Vigee of the Hill AFB Veterinarian Services Office. In buying a pet, the military family should think about their present and their future. Many people aren't prepared for the expense of what amounts to an extra mouth to feed, extra medical care to include the cost of spaying or neutering the animal, license and quite a few other expenses. Many people just don't have a proper place to keep a pet. Some have children who aren't old enough to know that a pet is more than just a often toy that moves. And others those who don't have the patience a pet requires just don't really enjoy animals. , ; : y: f V 19 Hilltop Times w . r i -- ' time-consumi- r labor-intensiv- - j Photo by Joy "We usually say, 'If you'd like to POOS. C1 Jorx The staff of the Hill AFB Veterinarian Services Office team up to give a shot to Iza the cat. The staff include: Carol Corwin, receptionist; Army Sgt. Gary Baker, veterinary technician; and Army Capt. David Vigee, veterinarian. (l-- r) "My feeling about the base is that purchased at the Animal Control there are people here and animals as Department, or any of the veterinariwell," she said. "If there is a problem here with animals it spills over into the community." When licensing animals with Davis County, owners will also be required to provide proof of rabies vaccination. Mail-i- n registration forms are available at the Housing Department, or an Animal Control officer will come to your residence to issue a license if requested. In addition, licenses can be Before purchase, consider carefully a pet anyway. r ( A pet for Christmas? While many people stay at the same base for years, any military member should remember that orders could come at any time, to any part of the world. An assignment to an area where base housing is limited or unavailable could be a disaster for the animal, the family, or both. "You need to consider that the animal could be going with the family overseas, and many places it's very difficult to find housing that will allow pets. The smaller the pet is, the easier it is to find housing," Vigee said. Housing is not the only consideration with an overseas move.' Many exotic pets, and in some cases every day animals, face long periods of quarantine before being allowed to enter certain countries. Families being transferred to the United Kingdom, for example, face a lengthy quarantine for even dogs and cats. Because that can cost $5,000 or more, some animals end up being left behind at animal shelters. Emily Braegger of the Ogden Humane Society suggests that the holidays may be the wrong time to buy I ans in Davis County. Davis County animal licenses are $20 for unaltered animals and $10 for Animals that have been altered. An additional $15 late registration fee will be charged for any delinquent licenses. If anyone has questions regarding the new regulation, please call Kristi at the Department of Animal Control 5 or at 544-835- 451-321- 7. thing they're forced to feed, forced to water, or forced to walk, forced to put in a kennel and pay for when they go on leave," he said. "If you don't have the time in your busy lifestyle, then maybe something else would be a better investment of your time and money." Military members considering more exotic pets should surely think twice, and should check on base and local regulations and laws concerning the animal they're considering. "Many base commanders will not allow pet snakes because of a misconception. They're considered to be a more troublesome and fearsome species," Vigee said. "Ferrets are a different matter. Because ferrets are susceptible to rabies and because they are classified as a wild species, most bases that I have worked on have a provision in the animal regulation that they are not allowed on base to he kept as pets." Another consideration is the family itself. Small children can be a reason to avoid breeds of dogs that are not known to get along with youngsters, Braegger said. Allergies can for certain make some pets a no-no buy someone a pet, give them a bone wrapped up and the money to go do families. Braegger says many of the animals it,' but just before Christmas it's so brought to the Ogden shelter come busy and so hectic it's an awful time from military personnel who are to get a pet used to your household." moving. "Pets aren't for everyone," she Braegger said. Pets are much like children; both said. "They take a lot of money; they require a lot of time. "People with take a lot of time." Braegger says for some people, a busy schedules and not much time for the animal often find the animal stuffed animal might be better than more of a burden than a joy," Vigee a pet. But for others, pets are well worth the time, trouble and expense, said. "Sooner or later they start looking at that pet as an obligation; some and provide years of companionship and enjoyment. |