A license to love
Podcast Episode
Kyle Geissler talks with Janesville Gazette reporter Cathy Idzerda about pet licenses and pet names in Janesville.
Photo
Medium Maggie
Photo
Large Max
Photo
Cornflake
Photo
Small Maggie
JANESVILLE — Big Max has a license.
So does medium Maggie and miniature Maggie.
Cornflake, Cheeto and Creampuff also are licensed.
We’re talking about pet licenses, of course. Those Maxes, Maggies and Cheetos are dogs and cats whose owners want to follow the rules—and keep their pets safe.
On Monday those licenses will expire, and the Janesville Police Department is encouraging people to renew old licenses or buy them for the first time.
The police department started to get serious about licensing last year.
“We started with animals that were either reclaimed or adopted from the humane society,” said Deputy Chief Steven Kopp.
People got two warnings about the licensing rule, one from the humane society and one from the police department.
“After that, we took a pretty firm stance and issued citations,” Kopp said. “It didn’t take long for the word to get out.”
As a result, the number of licensed pets tripled between 2006 and 2007.
The cost is $5 for a spayed or neutered animal and $10 for an animal that hasn’t been altered.
If you think that’s a lot, consider this: The fine for an unlicensed animal is $249.
Kopp, who owns a cat named Sassafras, said licensing is the right thing to do and can be good for pets, their owners and the public.
“If the animal is wearing the license when it gets out, it will be much easier to return,” Kopp said.
Licensing also guarantees pets will be vaccinated properly.
Animal complaints cost the city $90,000 a year—and those are all tax dollars.
“The cost of animal complaints are borne by all taxpayers, and it’s only right that animal owners pick up the majority of that cost,” Kopp said.
Pet licensing fast facts
License for a spayed or neutered animal: $5.
License for an animal that hasn’t been spayed or neutered: $10.
Fine for an unlicensed animal: $249.
Deadline for obtaining or renewing a license: Monday, March 31.
Age a cat or dog has to be before it needs a license: 5 months old.
Late fee for non-renewals: $5.
Where to get licenses: Janesville City Hall, 18 North Jackson St.; from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 29, Leisure Services will sell 2008 Paw Print Park licenses and pet licenses at Mounds Pet Food Warehouse, 1725 Lodge Drive, Janesville.
What you’ll need: Proof of rabies vaccination and proof your animals have been spayed or neutered.
What’s in a name?
Janesville’s pet licensing database is a case study in pet owner preferences and creativity.
Here’s a sampling:
Cat breeds
-- Most common unclassified breed: Domestic short hair, 604.
-- Most common classified breed: Siamese, 36.
-- Second most common classified breeds: Himalayan and “tabby” tied at 8.
-- Least common classified breeds: Angora, lynx point and Munchkin, tied at one apiece.
Cat names
-- Top three most common names: Buddy, 13; Angel, 12, Tigger, 10.
-- Top literary names: Dickens, Emily Dickinson, Shakespeare and T.S. Elliot.
-- Most factual names: Cat, Kitty Cat, Scaredy Cat, Mama Cat, Fat Cat, Miss Kitty, Baby Kitty, Mama Kitty and Que Beau Chat, which is French for “What a beautiful cat.”
-- One-of-a-kind names: Alfalfa, Bonzai, Buckwheat, Cornflake, Dustbunny, Flea, Grrr, Han Solo, Meowza, Mr. Bigglesworth, Mr. McDuff, Tangerine Tango and Q.
Dog breeds
-- Top five most common breeds: Labrador retriever, 758; golden retriever, 272; Shih Tzu, 182; German shepard, 174; beagle, 151.
-- Breeds of which you might not have heard: Komondor, a dog whose coat looks like a string mop; Jack-a-poo, a cross between a Jack Russell terrier and a poodle; Dogue de Bordeaux, which is sometimes called a “French Mastiff”; and Finnish Lapphund , a dog that originally was used to herd reindeer.
Dog names
-- Top name for male dog: Max, 73.
-- Top name for female dog: Molly, 72.
-- Top 10 runner-ups: Maggie, 62; Bailey, 56; Buddy, 51; Sadie, 44; Abby, 43; Lucy, 37; Daisy and Riley, tied at 32; Duke, 29.
-- Most factual names: Chewy, 8; Patches, 7; Barkley, 2; Blackie, 2; Nanook, 2; Scooby Doo, 2; Scrappy, 2; Shaggy, 2.
-- One-of-a-kind names: Achilles, Barney Google, Beano, Broccoli, Festus, Halftime, Killer Bee, Kitty, Milk Toast, Minnie Pearl, Mr. Bear, Mr. Bones, Mr. Sparkman, Pinot Noir and Thelma Loo Who.
Pet parade
Who: Maggie, a mid-sized golden Lab.
Owners: The Klukas family.
Stats: Second most popular name, first most popular dog.
Description: Who’s a good girl? Who’s a good girl?
Maggie is, oh yes, she’s a good girl!
That’s no exaggeration, either. Maggie completed the 26-week course at the Janesville Beloit Kennel Club, graduating as a Canine Good Citizen.
That means sitting nicely, staying nicely and responding to her master’s voice.
She probably doesn’t pull on her leash, either.
---
Who: Max, a St. Bernard.
Owners: The Allen family.
Stats: First most popular name for a male dog. Max is one of the largest of the 73 dogs named Max.
Description: Poor Max was in bad shape when he came to the Allens and, as result, had to be bottle fed for three months. It left Max thinking that he was a lap dog. But he’s a big boy and not suited for laps or couches.
He loves people, even new people, and gets crazy excited when he meets them.
“He’s funnier than heck,” said Mellisa Allen.
---
Who: Cornflake, a tabby cat.
Owners: The Muether family.
Stats: Cornflake is one of a kind.
Description: Cornflake started life on a family farm near Beaver Dam. The Muethers were visiting from their home in New York City and Cornflake just jumped into their van. The cat, who had a reputation for being the nicest cat ever, spent time living on the north shore of Long Island.
“People would say, ‘He’s gotta be from Wisconsin because he’s so kind, he’s so nice,’” Diane Muether said.
When the family moved back to Janesville, Cornflake came with them. She is still as sweet as ever.
---
Who: Maggie.
Owners: The Harding family.
Stats: Third most popular name. Maggie is one of the smallest of the 62 Maggies.
Description: She was found wandering the street and brought to the Rock County Humane Society. Then she found the Hardings, who gave the frightened little dog all the love and approval she needed.
At first, she didn’t bark at all and was very shy. Now the Hardings sometimes wonder if she’ll ever stop barking.
She’s become best friends with the Hardings’ other dog.
Mar 26, 2008 at 5:21 p.m.
Suggest removal
i admit-
this is the first time i have EVER licienced my INDOOR kitties-3 for fear of the 250 fine because one was from humane society so i decided to just do all and be done with it.
YES FINE OF $250 is stupid.
hit and run to my property- they fined her after IIIIII found her not police- to busy I guess but fine o well--
money to repair my property-- PRICELESS-- as in sucks to be me could take to court but what a pain
Mar 26, 2008 at 1:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
I can tell you first hand that the police department or the humane society did not issue a warning at all. I purchased my cat at Mounds, and they handed me a bunch of papers and never said that I would get a $249 ticket if I failed to license the cat by April 1. On April 5, they wrote me a $249 ticket on the spot. I even asked the officer if she could come back tomorrow and I would have the cat licensed by then and she said no. I chose to fight the ticket, and at the intake hearing the judge actually laughed. I pleaded not guilty and requested a trial by judge. The day before my court date, the CA called and said they would drop the charges. I encourage all people caught by this STUPID law to fight it all the way to court. It is nothing more than a revenue generator for the city of Janesville. They don't give a darn about the humane society or else the $249 would go to them. If you fight the ticket, it makes it unprofitable for the city to keep writing the tickets and hopefully the CA makes the council over turn this dumb law. $249 is excessive when I can run a stop sign and hit someone and it only costs $168 for failure to yield.
Mar 26, 2008 at noon
Suggest removal
In Beloit, when you take an animal to the vet for its vaccination, you get your license there--easy & painless. I don't like a lot about Beloit, but that was one thing they do right!
Mar 26, 2008 at 7:08 a.m.
Suggest removal
it not only makes sense to have vets sell/offer licenses, but also the humane society should require them to be purchased at the time the pet is "rescued." make it easy and less stressful to obtain a license and compliance will follow.
Mar 26, 2008 at 12:43 a.m.
Suggest removal
I can see licensing dogs, but I think its silly to license a house cat. I wonder, do all farm cats have to be licensed too?
Mar 25, 2008 at 6:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
I think the point is to harass pet owners. The $249 fine is crazy. Check out the public record and look at the fines of real crimes. In most cases they are less or the same.
Operating while suspended $186
Hit and run $249
Underage drinking $249
failure to notify police of accident $249
Parking in disabled spot $205
What is the fine for not having a bike license?
Mar 25, 2008 at 3:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
http://www.ci.janesville.wi.us/citysite/...
Doesn't get much easier then printing off a form, photocopying medical info about your pet, and mailing them along with your check.
Mar 25, 2008 at 3:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
Can we make the city government a bit more user friendly?
Why not let vets sell the license? More license sellers make it easier to get licenses, and hence more licenses get sold!
That is the point, isn't it? Or is the point just to harass pet owners?
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.