Does my dog need a city license for board and train?

Why a license is on the requirements list

It's the law, and it ties into rabies protection. Under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 140, section 137, the owner or keeper of a dog over six months old must license it in the city or town where the dog is kept, and the license can't be issued without a veterinarian's certification of rabies vaccination.

For a board-and-train program, a current license confirms that your dog is legally registered and gives one more record of rabies status. It's one of four things to have in place before the stay, with the vaccinations and the free evaluation.

• Rabies, DHPP (distemper) and Bordetella vaccinations on file
• A current city or town dog license
• The free evaluation, on a weekday between 6:30 and 9:30 AM
• Minimum age for puppies confirmed at the assessment

How to get a dog license in Massachusetts

Contact the clerk's office in the city or town where your dog lives. Most ask for proof of a current rabies vaccination and, for a reduced fee where offered, proof of spay or neuter. Many towns let you apply by mail or online. Fees and renewal dates are set locally, so check your own town's page.

Gloucester dogs are licensed through the Gloucester City Clerk; Rockport, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea dogs through their own town clerks. If you live in Beverly, Salem or elsewhere, use your own city's clerk. The license follows where the dog lives, not where it trains.