By Megan Alley
Sun Reporter
It’s January, which means it’s time for Clermont County residents to renew their dog licenses for their ‘best friends.’
State law requires any dog more than three months of age to be licensed.
Currently, a county dog license that’s good for one year costs $16.75, while three-year dog licenses cost $48, and permanent dog licenses are $160; licenses are non-refundable.
Licenses purchased after Jan. 31 are subject to a $16 late penalty.
The monies collected from the sale of the licenses goes directly, and entirely, to the county’s dog and kennel fund, which funds county animal services.
Besides being required by law, here are a few of the reasons why it’s important to license your pooch:
– Licensing fees are far less expensive than the fines you can incur without one. Dog owners with unlicensed dogs can face legal citations and fines of $110, and that’s on top of a $125 fee that can be issued to an owner if their unlicensed dog is found running at large, according to CARE’s website.
– If your dog goes missing, his being licensed will dramatically improve the chances of him being returned to you. A license is a dog’s primary identification, and it’s the first thing shelter workers look for when they pick up a dog that’s gotten loose; dog licenses provide an easy way for the shelter to identify and contact the owner.
– Extends the stray hold period from 72 hours to 10 days.
– Revenue from license sales is needed for everything from food and cleaning supplies to water and electric bills, as well as for dog warden services, shelter staff and veterinary care for the hundreds of homeless pets that go through the shelter’s doors every year.
To that point, Carolyn Evans, executive director for Clermont Animal Compassion, Advocacy, Rescue and Education, the operator of the county animal shelter, further explained that the revenue generated from the dog licenses is how the county shelter is primarily funded.
She also spoke on Clermont Animal CARE Humane Society’s recent contract negotiations with the county, saying that, “This next month is going to determine the funding, and the future, of animal services for county animals, she said, adding, “If everybody who has a dog licensed it, we wouldn’t have funding issue … this directly correlates to the services that we can provide to the county.”
Dog licenses can be purchased at the Clermont shelter, located at 4025 Filager Road in Batavia, as well as at a number of other locations throughout the county, including the Clermont County Auditor’s office (in person at 101 East Main St. and online at www.clermontauditor.org/_dnn/Licensing/Dog-License-Information), and all Park National Bank Clermont County branches.
For a complete listing, go to www.clermontauditor.org/_dnn/Licensing/Dog-License-Information.