Have you purchased a license for your dog? There are benefits beyond merely complying with the law…

Many dog owners have never purchased a license for their dog and are oblivious to the legal requirement.  After all, unless you “get caught” why should you bother?  Your thinking may be that your dog is friendly and basically confined to your house so what is the purpose in paying for a license other than to make money for your County?  Well, if your dog bites someone (a guest, the mailman or woman, the plumber…) or if your dog runs away or escapes your house, you will be fined $300.  The license is only $6.50 per year.  There is an online processing fee of a few dollars added to this.  You can also print out the application from the website and send in a check if you prefer not to use a credit card.  I think there is no processing fee if you use a paper application and US mail.

There is another benefit to registering other than avoiding a fine-30 counties, including Montgomery County, give you immediate access to www.PALostDogs.com which is a site which automatically registers your dog.  If your dog escapes the house or yard, you can get on this site, input your information and post photos and information regarding your lost dog.  Wow.  That is one powerful incentive in my mind.  You might pay a lot of money to use such a service if you purchased it from another company yet you get it for FREE if you license your dog with the county.  Over 2306 dogs have been reunited with their owners as a result of use of this site!  Only someone who has had a pet escape can understand the pain and fear accompanying such an event.

There is an easy website for registering your dog and purchasing the license (available for most counties in PA but not all).  And with that $6.50 fee you get a free membership to PA Lost Dogs indefinitely as long as you renew your dog license.

Go to:  http://www.padoglicense.com

By the way, you can also get a citation in addition to a fine for not registering your dog.  We all want to think we could never lose our dogs, but all it takes is a young child or contractor to leave a door ajar and your dog will be out exploring the world without you.  Do it now.