Is licensing pets (spayed indoor cat) a scam?

[Anonymous]

Every time I try to license or renew my indoor cat's license, it gives me problems. This is for the City of Alexandria, via a company called "Pet Data." She gets all her vaccinations at her yearly visit, and is indoor only, but still microchipped.

EVERY SINGLE TIME I send the company her new info, it says that it accepts my photo. Email says "ok." The city sends me an angry notice later that my cat's licensing has expired and I will be billed. They say the vaccination never went through, despite the site giving me the ok.

It's just a stupid headache that requires phonecalls and emails to sort out. Every single time.

What happens if I just ignore the notices? Lie, and say I no longer own my pet? Skip the whole stupid licensing dance? Which seems a bit much for a spayed, indoor only cat.

[Anonymous]

I've never licensed my pets. Every year there is a bill, every year it goes into the garbage can

[Anonymous]

The Montgomery County site works well, so I've never had to wonder whether it was a scam.

When you hear hooves, think horses, not zebras. In your city's case, it's probably solid incompetence. You should call your elected rep and complain, and also send a message to your local TV channel.

[Anonymous]

I’ve never heard of licensing a cat. I’m supposed to do this in MoCo??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve never heard of licensing a cat. I’m supposed to do this in MoCo??

Cats and dogs, yes.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/oas/licensing.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve never heard of licensing a cat. I’m supposed to do this in MoCo??

Didn't your vet tell you? The rescue I work for informs every adopter that they need to check with their local gov to pay for a license. Reputable breeders also remind buyers to do so.

[Anonymous]

Pet licensing fees support local government shelters and low-cost spay and neuter efforts run by counties.

They are useful. They save lives. Please do your part!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pet licensing fees support local government shelters and low-cost spay and neuter efforts run by counties.

They are useful. They save lives. Please do your part!

OP here. I DID my part. They still charged me the licensing fee, without updating that I actually got my cat her rabies vaccination. Just like last year. And the year before.

Anyone in Alexandria just ignore the "WE NOTICED YOUR ANIMAL'S LICENSING EXPIRED PLEASE CONTACT US ASAP" notices? What happened? There would be no way I should get a late or non-licensing ticket or fee, but I'm so tired of calling the city, then calling the company, and doing this a few times every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pet licensing fees support local government shelters and low-cost spay and neuter efforts run by counties.

They are useful. They save lives. Please do your part!

OP here. I DID my part. They still charged me the licensing fee, without updating that I actually got my cat her rabies vaccination. Just like last year. And the year before.

Anyone in Alexandria just ignore the "WE NOTICED YOUR ANIMAL'S LICENSING EXPIRED PLEASE CONTACT US ASAP" notices? What happened? There would be no way I should get a late or non-licensing ticket or fee, but I'm so tired of calling the city, then calling the company, and doing this a few times every year.

Can you just send them print-outs of the screen saying the ok, a copy of the records and say this has been an ongoing problem-here is your documentation and a formal complaint about Pet Data?

[Anonymous]

Calling your local representatives is the answer. You’re a responsible citizen going above and beyond to ensure they know you have complied. Surely many more just DGAF and don’t comply as a result of the system failure. They won’t fix it if constituents don’t complain.