FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2006
CONTACT:
Executive Secretary
Town of
Phone (413) 525-5400 ext. 420
Fax (413) 525-1025
Dog License Reminder Notices to be
Mailed
The East Longmeadow Board of Health is today mailing notices to all dog owners whose pets are listed as not having been licensed with the Town. Over 400 notices are being mailed.
Dog owners must either license their dogs or notify the Town if they no longer own the dogs by June 16, or they will be assessed a $10.00 late fee. Dog owners that take no action by June 30 will have a municipal lien recorded against their real property, which will be reflected in their next tax bill.
The Board of Health strongly encourages dog owners to license their pets, or notify the Town if they no longer own them. A copy of the letter being sent is part of this release.
[MORE]
June 1, 2006
Dear Dog Owner:
The East Longmeadow Board of Health reminds you that all dogs must be licensed annually. Town records indicate that your dog is not yet licensed for 2006. Please visit the Town Clerk’s Office in Town Hall to license your dog as soon as possible. The Town Clerk’s Office is open Monday-Friday, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. If you would like information on licensing your dog by mail, call the Town Clerk’s Office at 525-5400, ext. 410.
If the dog is no longer a member of your household, please call the Town Clerk’s Office and advise them accordingly.
The cost to license a dog is $10.00 if spayed/neutered; $15.00 if not. All dogs must be licensed, by June 16, 2006 or a $10.00 late fee will be assessed.
IMPORTANT NOTICE!
By the passage of Article 16 by the voters at the Annual Town Meeting on May 2, 2005, the Town adopted a by-law to establish a municipal charges lien pursuant to the authority of M.G.L. c. 40 §21 and c.40 §58. Town Meeting granted authority to the Town to record a lien against real property of an owner that does not pay a fee or charge assessed against the owner. The by-law also grants authority for the Town to charge for the interest and cost to record the lien with the Hampden County Registry of Deeds.
All dogs that are not licensed by June 30, 2006 will result in having the original cost of the license, ($10.00 for dogs that are spayed/neutered; $15.00 for those that are not), and the $10.00 late fee recorded as a lien against real property of the dog owner.
Be advised that the cost to record a lien with the Hampden County Registry of Deeds is currently $75.00. The owner will be responsible for this cost. A lien of approximately $95.00-$100.00 would subsequently appear on your next tax bill.
Once the Town has been paid, a release of the lien will be issued. The owner, however, will be responsible for recording the release with the Hampden County Registry of Deeds. This will result in the owner having to pay the Registry an additional recording fee, currently set at $75.00.
Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.
Very Truly Yours,
BOARD OF HEALTH
Chairman
GD:l
c: Board of Selectmen
Town Clerk
-30-