Dog License fees!

[Gardenmom]

Some guy with Animal Control showed up at our house back in October or November - can't remember when it was. Anyway, he asked if our dog was licensed. He wasn't, but he had received a rabies vaccination the year prior. So, I had to give him a check for $50 right then and there and he gave me a temporary license.

Apparently, I had 30 days to supply him with an updated rabies vaccination certificate, and I guess I...forgot or something. Well, yesterday, I get this bill in the mail for a whopping $100 more! Since this is now January (well over my 30-day-mark), I have to pay the fee AGAIN plus the $50 late fee, not to mention the $35 vet visit for a new rabies vaccination:grrr: I think that's ridiculous! DH is going to be SSSOOOOO mad.

Is this just a California thing, or are the fees for licensing your dog the same in other states?

[duinok]

Ouch!
Living in the country, I don't know about it first hand...but I know in town pets have to be registered and licensed, but I don't think the fees are that high! I thought it was only $10-$20...

[Gardenmom]

Sure wish I was living out in the country right about now! I think they're $20 if the dog has been spayed or neutered, but since he hasn't been, it's $50.

[LifeOfRylee]

Wow, that is steep! For us the fee is $5 for the year per pet. And there is no late fee.

[LifeOfRylee]

Oh, the spay/neuter makes a difference. I forgot about that. If our dog was not neutered the fee would be $15 for the year.

[Gardenmom]

I could live with that, but $50 per year is too much:(

[redrose74]

In my county (in California), it's $11 per year for a fixed dog, it's $90 per year for an unfixed dog. The fee for having no license for your dog is pretty steep, though the late fee is lower. Cats don't *require* a license, but you can voluntarily get one for $6/year.

You might look for a low-cost clinic to get your rabies shot from (they still provide the necessary certificate). There are clinics around here ALL the time where you can get a rabies shot for as little as $10.

[wowmomma]

Where I live it is only $5.00/ year. There is no unfixed rate as a law has been recently passed that all animals have to be fixed. If you are going to breed the animal then it is a whole different license that you need. We just get a paper reminder in the mail write a check and send it to them.

[Lisa]

We don't have to have our pets registered, just have to have vaccinations up to date and ready to show if needed. We have only had to show Ginger's one time. I'm so sorry to hear about that. It really does sound steap.

[Tammy]

Wow, that does seem to be a lot!

I don't know what are fees are for not having a license, but our yearly dog tags are $13/dog - double if paid late.

[Suzie Choosy]

Here the license is 8.00 a year or 20.00 if you want to pay for the 3 year rabies vaccine. (which then makes you eligible to buy a 3 year license,)

It used to be a lot higher for animals who were not spayed or neutered.
For some reason the law reverted back to a flat fee regardless of whether or not the animal is intact.

Our animal control will visit and confiscate the animal if they're not licensed and up to date on their shots. You have to physically go to animal control and pay the fines and rescue your pet if you get caught with unlicensed animals.

I'm not sure which is worse. I wouldn't want to pay high fines, But I sure would be upset if one of my fur babies was in jail at animal control too!

[Gardenmom]

That's really scary! To actually have someone come to my door and demand I give them my dog just because he's not licensed:grrr:

DH took our Sammy in last Saturday for his rabies vaccination, and I promptly sent the certificate, along with $100, to Animal Control. I didn't tell him about the extra $100 - he was already mad about the guy coming to our home wanting $50 for the temporary. Knowing they wanted more would really send him through the roof.

[Suzie Choosy]

That's really scary! To actually have someone come to my door and demand I give them my dog just because he's not licensed:grrr:



I've never known anyone who actually had it happen to them, But according to the county law, They can confiscate an unlicensed animal Or, in an abuse situation, they can confiscate at their discretion.

I think it's a bit too much control for animal control. On the other hand there's no shortage of idiots who abuse their animals around here either. So I guess the laws are so strict because it's necessary.


Edited to add Just now I was yammering on with the hubbie about this thread and he just told me that animal control paid us a visit yesterday!!
They called it a 'courtesy call.' He said they are going around the neighborhood knocking on doors and reminding people to vaccinate for rabies and license their pets. Now that makes me feel a bit nervous! I didn't really believe they actually would come around like that even if no one has called them. I guess I should be glad they're earning their pay checks. But truthfully I feel a little like 'Big brother' is watching!

[redrose74]

I agree that it's a little big brother, but I can see where they're coming from. I live in a used-to-be-rural town in California, and we've had our share of issues with backyard breeders, fighting dogs, unvaccinated dogs biting people or other animals, etc. That's why the license fees for unaltered dogs are so high (to prevent how many dogs end up in the shelters every year -- 30,000!! in one county alone!) and why there are such stiff penalties for not licensing and vaccinating. I know people who have had their dogs put down because they weren't licensed or vaccinated and bit someone/something. I'm not a huge fan of all vaccinations, but I definitely get the rabies ones for my babies. Actually, Clark gets his vaccination and new license this month! He's getting the three-year vaccination and three-year license so I don't have to worry about it for a while!

[Lisa]

One thing I don't like about the vaccinations here is that you have to have the rabies done EVERY year for all animals. I have read that it last 3-5 years, so I wish they would go to every three. That would make more sense to me. We are getting ready to make an appointment for all of our babies.

[redrose74]

At my vet's office, they have an option for a one-year vaccination and a three-year vaccination for rabies, but they're not the same exact vaccination. Other vaccinations, you have the choice to vaccinate every one, two, or three years, using the same vaccination.

That's odd that they won't let you use the three-year rabies vaccination. I hate getting my babies more vaccinations than necessary, and I'm glad Clark will be done with the rabies for 3 years, as he has a reaction to it.

[Lisa]

I believe the laws are state to state and that is just the law in Indiana.