Time to License Your Dogs

— from Milene Henley, SJC Auditor —

Protect your pooches! Starting Monday November 17, San Juan County dog tags for 2015 will be available to purchase. This year you can protect your dog with an orange bell. This simple protection will assure you of being reconnected with your dog if it gets lost.

Our animal control database allows anyone to look up dog owners by dog tag number. If you find a dog, go to sanjuanco.com and type “dog license search” in the search box. Once you are on the San Juan County dog license search page, type in the tag number. This will provide you the dog’s name, owner’s contact numbers, and vet’s name. If you have provided a photo of your dog to the data base (for a $5.00 annual fee), someone who finds your dog will be able to verify that the dog they found is yours. Photos can be a great help in reconnecting dog to owner.

All dogs in San Juan County are required to be licensed. A share of the proceeds from the fees goes to the local Animal Protection Societies for their operations. Another portion is reserved for reimbursement of owners of livestock killed or damaged by dogs. The remainder goes into a county fund which pays the costs of the licensing program. After expenses are paid, the balance is divided between the three animal shelters for impound services.

Licensing costs are the same as in previous years:

• Neutered males/Spayed females — $12.00
• Natural male or female — $30.00
• Replacement tag (current year tag) — $2.00
• Photo fee (annually) — $5.00
• Late fee (after March 31, 2015) — $10.00

Dog licenses are available at locations on each island.

• San Juan: San Juan County Auditor’s office, Harbor Veterinary, & Animal Protection Society.
• Orcas: Pawki’s for Pets, Eastsound Kennels, & Orcas Animal Protection Society.
• Lopez: Sunset Builders, Ark Veterinary, & Lopez Animal Protection Society.