New partnership with Lucas County Veterans Service Commission will cover the $25 dog license fee for up to 100 dogs for area veterans
TOLEDO, Dec. 1, 2023: The Lucas County Commissioners, Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez, Lucas County Veterans Service Commission Executive Director Charles Hiser, and Lucas County Canine Care & Control (LC4) Director Kelly Sears kicked off the 2024 dog licensing period today.
One-year, three-year, and permanent dog licenses can be purchased without penalty from December 1 through January 31, 2024, without penalty. Fees for licenses are $25 for one year, $75 for three years, and $250 for the life-of-a-dog option.
Ohio law requires all dogs 3 months and older to be registered in the county in which the dog is kept. Licenses purchased after January 31, 2024 will include a late fee equal to the cost of the annual license.
“If your dog gets lost, a license tag is the best tool we have to bring your dog home safe,” Commissioner Pete Gerken said. “Getting or renewing a dog license is not only legally required in Ohio, it helps Lucas County Canine Care & Control safely reunite lost pets with their families as soon as possible.”
The press conference to announce the dog licensing period was held at the Main Library in downtown Toledo, which, along with all 19 Toledo Lucas County Public Library branches, is among the locations selling 2024 dog licenses.
Licenses can also be purchased in person at LC4, 410 S. Erie St., or at the Lucas County Auditor’s Office in One Government Center, Suite 600, in downtown Toledo. There is an online option at lucascountydogs.com.
“So far in 2023, Lucas County Canine Care & Control has reunited 724 dogs with their families,” Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak said. “If each dog is wearing a license, the reunification process is easier and more efficient.”
Dog owners who purchase a 2024 license for their pet will receive an LC4 Loves Dogs key fob, which is a rewards program that offers discounts for services and goods at participating businesses and organizations.
“The 2024 license is your pet’s ticket home should he or she get lost,” Commissioner Lisa Sobecki said. “Give yourself peace of mind and license your dog today.”
LC4 is also offering a special edition license for veterans this year. Through a new partnership with the Lucas County Veterans Service Commission called Dog Tags for Dog Tags, honorably discharged veterans in Lucas County can receive a free 2024 Lucas County dog license. The Commission is also sponsoring up to 100 adoptions from LC4 for area veterans as part of the new program.
Veterans can obtain a voucher for a 2024 dog license or dog adoption from LC4 by calling the Veterans Service Commission at 419-213-6090 or by visiting the offices at 2595 Arlington Ave.
“We are proud to partner with the Veterans Service Commission and the Auditor’s Office to support local veterans by encouraging dog ownership,” LC4 Director Kelly Sears said. “We are excited for this new program that will not only benefit the men and women who served our country, but our shelter dogs, too.”
For more information about dog licenses, adoptions, or other programs, visit lucascountydogs.com.