Stupid City...

Can someone please explain to me why I’m being “hounded” by Dallas Animal Services?

It’s ridiculous. I’m a responsible pet owner. I follow all the rules: keep my dogs properly vaccinated, walk them on leases, pick up their poop, etc. I even took it upon myself to register them with the City of Dallas. After all, that’s what responsible pet owners do, right?!

Well, I’m starting to wish I had refrained from being so “responsible”. If nothing else, the City of Dallas has taught me time and time again that they are completely incompetent. Why I thought their animal services division would be any different is beyond me. I must have skipped my daily cup of coffee that morning.

Anyway, last spring, I registered Gypsy Kitty and Dolly with the City of Dallas after their annual physical exam and vaccinations. I had just moved to Dallas from Highland Park (where I had been house-sitting) the previous fall, and figured I’d go ahead a register the two with Dallas once their H.P. registration expired. It was only $7/a dog (much cheaper than the $15 H.P. was charging) and meant I would avoid a $10 ticket if the City ever figured out I was an unregistered pet owner.

Then, about a month later, two things happened: (1) Dolly moved back in with my sister, and (2) I found Haskell on…well…Haskell.

Originally, I didn’t intend on keeping Haskell – just fostering him until a permanent home could be found. That was until Gypsy (who wasn’t adapting well to the whole “only dog” thing) decided that Haskell was her new best friend. The two became very close, and – by the end of the summer – it was obvious that Haskell’s “forever home” was with Gypsy and me.

I decided to wait to register Haskell with the City. I wasn’t sure if registrations automatically expired at the end of the calendar year in Dallas (like they did in H.P.), but it seemed practical to hold off registering Haskell until it was time to renew Gypsy’s.

Well, as it turns out, the City of Dallas encourages pet owners to register their pets immediately after vaccinating them every year. So, I had to wait until this spring to reregister Gypsy. Haskell, however, wasn’t due for his shots until the end of May. Consequently, it seemed logical to wait until after Haskell’s annual to register both dogs. Or so I thought…

I took Gypsy in for her physical exam and vaccines in mid April, and Amy took Dolly in a few days later for hers. Apparently, the City of Dallas receives notification every time a dog or cat receives a rabies shot (hence, the whole rabies tag business). As a result, I received a letter in the mail a couple of weeks later (from the City) thanking me for being a “responsible pet owner” and vaccinating my pets. Also included in the envelope: a reminder encouraging me to reregister my pets with the City. Again, I figured it was easier (not to mention: logical) to wait and register Gypsy and Haskell together, rather than separately. Plus, Haskell’s annual exam and shots were due in only a month or so anyway. It seemed practical to wait.

Well, I was wrong. Yesterday I received a letter from the City of Dallas threatening to slap me with a fine if I didn’t reregister Gypsy and Dolly by May 25th (i.e. today). Uhmmmm…what?! Thanks for the heads-up!

So, since there is NO way I can make it all the way out to Forney Road to hand deliver Gypsy and Dolly’s registration this afternoon, I guess I’m screwed. This, in my opinion, is like being penalized for being “responsible” in the first place. Trevor has never registered Alley with the City of Dallas. She’s current with her shots and all, but – as far as the City is concerned – Trevor may live in the Park Cities, Plano, Garland, Richardson, etc. (some of the many cities surrounded by or next to the City of Dallas). Apparently, the City won’t threaten you with a fine until they are sure you actually live IN Dallas, as opposed to a separate municipality. Heaven forbid they check your address against their own records!

Plus, isn’t the whole pet registration concept centered on preventing rabies in the first place? In other words, I register my pet so the City can make sure I keep my pet properly vaccinated against the disease. But what is the point of registering my pet if the City already knows that my pet is properly vaccinated? Furthermore, why send me a letter thanking me for vaccinating my pet one day and penalizing me the next for not reregistering? Especially considering I’ve already completed the most important task at hand: vaccinating the pet! What about all those irresponsible pet owners that don’t bother to get their animals the necessary shots in the first place? I bet the City doesn’t send them threatening letters! After all, if no vaccinations are administered, how can the City possibly know that an animal exists at a certain residence? Aggghhhh!

It is so unfair.

I was able to get Haskell into the vet this afternoon for his shots. So, assuming they are open tomorrow, I can try to register all of the dogs with the City tomorrow morning. Oh, and just incase you were wondering: Amy is currently on a cruise and I’m taking care of Dolly in her absence. I guess I’ll do the easiest thing and register Dolly when I register Gypsy and Haskell. Amy can always pay me back later (she won’t, but it never hurts to be optimistic, right?!).

Sigh...