Do I Have to License My Dog?

If you live in King County, or any other county in the state of Washington, it is mandatory to license your dog. Whether your dog is an inside or outside dog, or you live in the country or in the city, it doesn’t matter…your dog must be licensed.

Your dog should wear his/her license at all times and they must be renewed yearly. Typically a license for a dog that hasn’t been spayed or neutered will be more expensive.

Aside from the requirement of licensing your dog, as someone who loves their dog, you should want to do so, because there are some great benefits for you, your pet and for your neighbors.

Compelling reasons to license your dog:

• Probably the #1 reason to license is because it is not unlikely that your dog may become separated from you at one time or another. Your license will increase the likelihood that he will be returned to you thanks to the identifying number on the dog tag.
  • Lost and licensed dogs will get a “1st time lost” free ride home in King County.
  • If your licensed pet ends up at an animal shelter, because it’s licensed he will be cared for for a longer period of time.
• It’s healthy to license your dog: Because you must show proof of vaccinations, required of dogs 4 months old and older, licensing helps lower the risk of rabies and distemper outbreaks.
• It helps keep the dog catcher away…unlicensed dogs are in jeopardy of getting picked up by the dog catcher, which can result in a pretty hefty fine. In King county, the fine for a spayed or neutered dog is $125, but if your dog is not spayed or neutered, the amount jumps to $250.
• If you need to board or have your dog in day care, the facility won’t accept them unless they are licensed.
• Money from your licensing fees helps animal shelters cover their costs of sheltering and feeding their “guests”.

Cost of a dog license is so minimal that every dog owner should be able to afford one. Once again citing King County, licenses run between $15 – $30 a year, and if you can prove that your dog is a service animal there is no cost.

Do your duty, and be a responsible dog owner…get your “best friend” licensed.