Don't Forget to License Your Pup

Time is running out to purchase your 2013 dog licenses, according to Summit County Fiscal Officer Kristen M. Scalise.

Dog licenses cost $14. Ohio law requires licenses to be renewed between Dec. 1 and Jan. 31 each year.

A late fee equal to the cost of the license will be charged for applications received after the January deadline.

If your dog has a Dangerous Dog designation, it must be registered per O.R.C. This is in addition to your annual registration.

You can obtain your dog license at the Fiscal Office Services Department, 1030 E. Tallmadge Avenue, Akron, Ohio, 44310; Summit County Animal Control, 250 Opportunity Pkwy. in Akron; or any other convenient neighborhood locationthroughout Summit County.

Here are some locations in Patch towns:

• Camp Bow Wow in Cuyahoga Falls
• Falls Hardware in Cuyahoga Falls
• K9 Piper's Place in Twinsburg
• Pawsibilities in Twinsburg
• License Bureau in Fairlawn

Those vendors charge 75 cents per license for their service in addition to the $14 fee. 

Visit http://fiscaloffice.summitoh.net and choose the Dog Licensing link  to view more locations, or call 330-630-7226 for a listing in your area.

License registration forms are available online. Simply print the form, fill it out and mail it with your remittance. (The forms are also attached to this post in the form of a .pdf.)

You can purchase your dog/kennel license(s) online only by credit card or electronic check. Official Payments is the provider and they do charge a nominal fee for their service.

“An excellent reason for licensing your pet is in the event it becomes lost. When your pet wears a current Summit County dog tag on their collar, the license can help bring your lost pet home,” said Scalise.

Kristen’s Missing Pet Network can also help identify a lost pet. The network can be accessed through the Fiscal Office’s website and offers an open forum to post photos and descriptions of lost and found pets.

Kennel owners must renew their licenses during this same time; cost is $50 per license and includes five tags.

Service dogs must be licensed but their fee is waived when certification of the dog’s training is provided. Once they are registered with the county, they are permanently licensed by receiving special tags.