Canines across Athens County are howling at their owners to purchase a dog license that will keep them safe — and area dog owners are listening.
Nearly 3,000 dog licenses were purchased at the Athens County Auditor’s Office since the start of the new year, with sales still growing rapidly, said Auditor Jill Thompson, adding that about 10,000 licenses were purchased in 2011.
“We have expanded sales to online, so it makes it easier for people to obtain licenses,” Thompson said. “It’s more user-friendly.”
Ohio law requires every dog, from schnauzers to labradoodles, to be licensed if they are three months or older, she added.
“I’m not sure if a lot of dog owners know that they’re under a legal obligation to license their dogs,” Thompson said. “It certainly makes a big difference in finding the owner and returning the dog.”
Although Ohio University student dog owners are not required to purchase a license in Athens County, they must have their dog registered wherever they call home, Thompson said.
“(Students) may have their dogs licensed at home,” she added. “As long as their dogs are licensed, they are not violating the law.”
Athens County Dog Warden Jeff Koons said students are not a problem when it comes to unlicensed dogs.
“We sell quite a few licenses to OU students,” he said. “We always do a piece in the newspaper to let students know that they need to purchase licenses as well.”
Licenses are $24 per dog, and dogs that qualify for the spayed or neutered discount cost $14 fee per dog, according to the application form. After Jan. 31, all dog-licensing fees are doubled.
Although Thompson said the license fees fund the Athens County Dog Shelter, Koons said the tags also serve as an easy way home to dogs.
“That’s the identification. We can look in our computer and find its owner quickly,” Koons said.
Licenses are valid until Jan. 31, 2013.
“There’s always going to be dogs running loose,” Koons said. “Accidents happen, but when we can find the dogs' owners and return them, that’s a happy story.”
ls114509@ohiou.edu
