In an effort to keep everyone safe in our fine community, the city of Hays requires everyone who owns a dog or cat that is 6 months old or older must have their pet properly vaccinated for rabies and registered with the city of Hays.

The city gives pet owners until the first of March each year to get this taken care of, unless the owner has had reasons to work with animal control officers, such as having a dog at large.

If you have met with animal control officers, then you might have been required to get your license before this grace period ended.

If you are like me and have smaller indoor pets, you might have forgotten, thinking it really isn't important because they are outside for only short periods. Regardless of where your pet spends most of its time, having it registered with the city of Hays is a requirement.

It is really a very simple process. You merely have to take proof of your pet's rabies vaccination, and if you are registering the animal for the first time, proof of it being neutered or spayed, to the city clerk's office at 1507 Main and pay the registration fee.

The registration and license is $5 for each neutered male or spayed female dog or cat. For each male or female dog or cat not spayed or neutered, the license is $25.

If you have a dog that falls in the family of dogs considered a "pit bull," you have additional registration requirements as of this year. By city ordinance, pit bulls are:

* The Staffordshire bull terrier.

* The American Staffordshire terrier.

* The American pit bull terrier.

* Any other breed commonly known as pit bull, pit bull dog, or pit bull terrier.

* Dogs that have the appearance and characteristics of being predominantly of the breed of dogs known as Staffordshire bull terrier, American pit bull terrier or American Staffordshire terrier.

By Ordinance Section 5-125, the family of dogs considered pit bulls are considered dangerous. If a dog is determined to be dangerous by definition, or the municipal court judge determines that a dog is dangerous pursuant to this division, the owner or keeper of the dangerous dog is required to comply with the following:

* The owner or keeper is required to annually register the dangerous dog with the city. The owner or keeper must provide proof of micro-chipping the dog, proof of rabies vaccination and a current photo of the dog being registered. The owner will be required to pay a $50 annual registration fee in addition to the basic pet registration fees.

* If the owner or keeper of the dangerous dog moves during the year, they are required to update their registration information with the city clerk. If the dog is removed from the city limits, has died or is lost or stolen, the owner or keeper is required to notify the city.

There are additional restrictions in how the dog is secured or maintained at the residence. The home must have signage displayed in a prominent place readable by the public that says "dangerous dog." A similar sign must be on the dog's kennel or pen.

All dangerous dogs are required to be securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or kennel outdoors. No dangerous dog can be kept on a porch, patio or in any part of a house or structure that would allow the dog to exit the building on its own volition. It is unlawful for any owner or keeper to maintain a dangerous dog upon any premises that does not have a locked enclosure.

When the owner or keeper of the dog allows the dog outside the enclosure or home, the dog must be on a leash no longer than 4 feet and the dog must be muzzled. The dog must be under the direct control and supervision of the owner. Dangerous dogs may not be picketed on a chain, rope or leash outside the pen and attached to an object. The muzzle should be made and used in a manner that will not cause injury to the dog or interfere with its vision or respiration, but shall prevent it from biting any human or animal.

To assist owners of pit bulls and other dogs deemed dangerous, our animal control officers will be touching base with owners of possible dangerous dogs to go over the new requirements and assist them in understanding the ordinance and what is necessary to be in compliance.

For all dogs and cats, the city of Hays registration is required to be completed annually on or before March 1 of each year. If you haven't obtained a license for your pets this year it is not too late. The longer you wait, the more expensive the registration becomes. For each month or part of a month your pet's registration is late, the additional penalty is $10.

It makes it worth it to get your pets registered before March 1. For example, I have three dogs that are all spayed or neutered. My total registration cost is $15. If I wait and don't get it done by March 1, my cost will increase to $45. We have the first two months of the year as breathing space to recover from the holidays and get our pets registered. It really pays to get this done before the end of February.

By following these laws and regulations, we can keep our pets and community safe, and know if our pet does somehow become lost that we will have a greater chance to be reunited with them. If you are a Hays resident and have pets that are not registered with City Hall, take care of this today.

Philip Hartsfield is assistant chief of the Hays Police Department.