Does your dog have a license? – and no not the driving kind- but if you answered no to that question there might be some state laws, you’re unaware of.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement states that all dogs three months or older must be licensed by January 1 of each year. The dog license serves as an identifier and usually has a corresponding number on a physical dog tag.
“A dog license shows visibly on your dogs’ collar and it’s the best way to bring your dog home quickly if they’re lost," said Shannon Powers, press secretary at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. "Even if that dog has a microchip, a dog without a license might end up in a shelter or lost to you forever. There’s a misconception out there that if my dog has a chip from the vet, it doesn’t need a license. You absolutely need a license.
We spoke with the Cambria County Humane Society about what happens when a dog is found without a license.
"If a dog comes in, all dogs when they’re entering the building, whether it’s by animal control or an individual that finds them, they are considered a stray," said Kylie Claycomb, adoption supervisor at the Cambria County Humane Society. "We do have to have some sort of legal proof of ownership in order to return that dog to someone.”
The license must be purchased from your county treasurer and there is a penalty up to 300 dollars for not having one.
“A lot of people in general but especially what we see in this area is that people don’t know that dog licenses are a requirement, that they are state law," said Claycomb. "So, a lot of people don’t even know what a dog license is.”
The fees from dog licenses go towards supporting Pennsylvania Dog Wardens and their work to keep Pennsylvania a safe place.
"What that license does for you is huge," said Powers. "It protects you; it protects your community and it gets your dog home quickly if they’re lost.”
For more information on dog licenses contact your local county treasurer.
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