Dog License Amnesty Program for Residents of Unincorporated RivCo

A dog-license amnesty program restarted Wednesday for residents of unincorporated Riverside County.

Riverside County Animal Services has offered this program in the past as a way to encourage negligent dog owners to catch up with getting a dog license – without facing any past penalties. A dog owner will not be charged any past due dog-license fees if they take advantage of this newest amnesty period, running Sept. 12 through Oct. 31.

State law requires all dog owners to have a dog license, which can only be obtained when the pet is currently vaccinated for the rabies virus.

The program is for owners of altered or unaltered dogs, but the owners must reside in unincorporated areas of the county.

As with past amnesty programs, the offer is only valid for dog owners who do not have any outstanding citations for failing to license their dog or do not get cited during the amnesty period.

“We have done this with great success in the past,” said Dr. Allan Drusys, chief veterinarian for Riverside County. “Although we always like when dog owners have been compliant for the entire period they have owned their pet, this program certainly encourages those who have fallen behind in their responsibility to catch up without getting hit in the wallet.”

The Department of Animal Services organized a similar amnesty program with its contract partner, the city of Jurupa Valley. The Jurupa Valley amnesty period is running until Nov. 30.

The easiest and fastest way for dog owners to get their license updated is by using the county’s Web licensing program, featured on the department’s Web site, www.rcdas.org (Please note: all dogs must be vaccinated for rabies). Licenses can also be bought at the county’s main shelter, 6851 Van Buren Blvd., Jurupa Valley, CA 92509. A one-year dog license for an altered dog is $16. A one-year license for an unaltered dog is $100.