Ohio law requires dog owners to buy licenses for their dogs to wear. The fees go toward shelter expenses such as feeding dogs, vaccinating and microchipping them, and spaying or neutering them, said Jen Huettich, volunteer and events coordinator at the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter.
Dog owners can obtain or renew a license online or go into the shelter for it. Dog licenses, which are good for a year, are $20 until Jan. 31. Starting in February, the cost increases to $40.
Up-to-date licenses make it easier for shelter staff to reunite dogs with their owners, Huettich said. Dogs with current licenses that end up at the shelter are held for 14 days as the staff tries to find the owner. After that, the dog becomes available for adoption.
Dogs with expired licenses are held for seven days. An unlicensed dog can be put up for adoption 72 hours after going into the shelter.
“We’ll do anything we can once we have some kind of identification to make sure the dog is reunited with their owner,” Huettich said.
On average, the shelter brings in almost $1.5 million per year from license fees. There are around 65,000 licensed dogs in Cuyahoga County, said Mindy Naticchioni, shelter administrator. The shelter also gets funding from adoption fees. It can request additional funding from the county if necessary.
Because license and adoption fees cover shelter costs and necessities for the dogs, all donations go toward medical expenses – surgeries, heartworm treatment, possible amputations – for dogs that arrive in rough shape.
“You’re helping stray dogs find homes, medicine,” Huettich said. “But then you’re also getting your dog back faster in the event you lose them. Because even the best owner, most responsible owner, can inadvertently lose their dog. It just happens.”
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