By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Pets sometime get lost and wearing a city of Hays pet license makes it easier for Fido to get home in time for dinner.

Annual pet licenses are $5 for neutered or spayed cats and dogs; $25 if the pets are not altered.

Even if your pet is micro-chipped, the information that is visible on the city tag provides quicker help, according to Hays Animal Control Officer Nikki Hausler.

“Once they’re registered, keep that tag on them because the city of Hays Police Department has 24-hour-a-day access to that database that keeps (the information.)  A lot of times people will have their rabies vaccination tags on there but no city tags,” Hausler said.

”If the vet clinics are closed, there’s no way for us to get those animals home to you.  If they’ve got their city registration tag, we dial you up and say ‘Hey, your dog got out. We’ll bring it home to you,’ instead of taking them out to the shelter where they’ll be impounded and incurring those impoundment costs (to the owner),” Hausler added.

The owners whose lost pets don’t have a city license and are picked up by Animal Control, will pay a higher fine.

Pet licenses are available for purchase in the city clerk’s office in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main. Owners must bring their pets’ proof of rabies vaccination.