PAW Will Promote Responsible Pet Ownership

In support of new animal control ordinances approved by City Council on Aug. 11, Code Compliance’s Animal Care and Control Division is developing an education program — Pets Are Worth it (PAW) — that will emphasize the needs for and benefits of responsible pet ownership.

Partnering with area animal welfare organizations and utilizing the resources of the Community Relation Department’s Neighborhood Education Office, PAW will work to get its message out to communities in a variety of ways. Among those programs will be:

• An education outreach program that will target school-aged children
• A one-year pilot program that would allow licensed veterinarians to issue a free city pet license when they give a rabies vaccination to animals that are micro-chipped and have been spayed or neutered
• An online class in responsible pet ownership that would be made available to abate certain citations or waive fees for owners seeking an intact pet permit

The idea behind PAW is education, as much as enforcement, and emphasizes why it is important to license your pets, the need for vaccinations and proper medical treatment, the advantages of having pets altered, and how to safely and humanely protect pets with adequate enclosures and shelter.

Volunteers to help with PAW programs or organizations interested in helping with programs or sponsoring programs are welcome. To learn about the PAW program or how to volunteer, call 817-392-PAWS (7297) or use the e-mail form below:

Become a PAW Volunteer