Dog Owners Encouraged to Get License

Delaware County Council is literally hounding residents to get a current dog license for their pet, stressing that a current license is the best way to protect a dog in case it gets lost.

Delaware County is also facing a change in the handling of stray dogs come July 1, when the Delaware County SPCA will no longer accept stray animals.

While municipalities, local police and county council are working toward a solution to the stray situation, county council stresses that it’s easier for the police, animal control officers and residents to contact a dog owner if a lost dog has a current license.

To encourage dog owners to get a current license, county council is offering three new incentives this month:

• Extended Treasurer’s Office hours, 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. June 22 in the lobby of the Delaware County Government Center in Media. People can enter the Government Center through the courtyard on Orange Street.
• A one-day Drive-Thru Dog License event 9 a.m.-2 p.m. June 25 in Rose Tree Park, Upper Providence. People can just drive into the main parking lot at Rose Tree Park, turn in their application, pay the fee and leave with a license. People can download the application from the County web site and fill it out in advance, or get the application at the Drive-Thru event. Dogs who accompany their owners to the Doggy Drive-Thru will get a free doggy treat.
• A Dog License Table will be set up at two Summer Festival events in Rose Tree Park at both the 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. concerts on June 29. The 10 a.m. concert is an interactive children’s event featuring Peter Moses; the 7:30 p.m. concert features Philly Gumbo. Licenses can be purchased at both events.

“All of these efforts are  intended to educate dog owners that it’s state law to have a license, plus we are trying to make it convenient for people to get the license,” said Councilman Mario J. Civera, Jr.

Under Pennsylvania law, every dog three months and older must be licensed. The fees range from $6.45 for a neutered pup to $50 for a lifetime license for a dog that has been micro-chipped or tattooed. If the animal is found with no license, the fine can run as high as $300.

“But the most important reason to have a license is to ensure that Fido can be identified and returned to his owner if he should get lost,” Councilman Civera said.

An identification tag is helpful, but a license provides more detailed information for authorities.

State law also requires that animals be held for 48 hours before they can be put up for adoption or euthanized. Lack of a license drastically reduces a dog’s chances of being reunited with the owner.

In addition, Delaware County offers a free Return a Lost Dog program through the County website at www.co.delaware.pa.us. There is a dog icon on the home page. Anyone finding a lost dog can simply enter the license number in the computer and retrieve the phone number of the owner.

In Pennsylvania, dog licenses are sold at the county level. In Delaware County, people can get dog licenses at the County Treasurer’s Office in the Government Center, plus 20 additional sites throughout the county including the Department of Parks and Recreation Office in Rose Tree Park.

Fees collected through licensing are used by the state Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement to protect the safety, health and welfare of dogs.

Humane societies report the Fourth of July holiday is the busiest time for lost dogs. Vacations, open windows, outdoor activities and loud fireworks result in pets running away from home, so now is a critical time to get each dog a license.