Printable Forms
and Applications
Public Access
(Online Services)
COUNTY COUNCIL REMINDS DOG OWNERS
TO OBTAIN A 2010 LICENSE
Licenses offers safeguards and benefits for pet owners
Delaware County Council encourages residents to give their pets a safe start to the New Year by getting them licensed, which automatically lists them in the County’s “Return a Lost Dog” database.
Each year, animal control officers report that many stray canines are turned in to shelters because they lack the proper identification to be reunited with their owners. Once a license is obtained, a pet’s contact information is made available on the County’s database, ensuring Fido’s swift and safe return. Residents who find a lost pet can use the database to locate an owner’s contact information.
A license is the best way to ensure the return of your pet, plus it is the law.
Pennsylvania State law requires that owners of dogs, three months and older, get a license every year, or have a lifetime license. The fine for having an unlicensed dog is $300. State law also requires that dogs and cats three months of age and older have a current rabies vaccination.
“We all value our pets and it’s heartbreaking if they happen to get loose and are lost,” said County Council Chairman Jack Whelan, whose family has two dogs. “Reducing the number of unlicensed dogs in the county will reduce the number of unclaimed stray dogs in shelters.”
Residents who license their pets enjoy several benefits, including use of the County’s enclosed dog park located in Kent Park, Upper Darby, and inclusion in the County’s “Return a Lost Dog” database. Membership to the dog park requires a $25 fee and members are given an electronic key to access the park. Unlicensed animals are not permitted to access the dog park.
Licenses can be purchased through the County Treasurer’s office in the Government Center, or at locations throughout the county.
- Yearly license fees are $6 for neutered male dogs, $6 for spayed females, and $8 for other male and female dogs. A reduced rate is charged for individuals with disabilities and senior citizens who are 65 and older. The reduced yearly fee for neutered males and spayed females is $4; other dogs are $6.
- Lifetime licenses can be obtained if the dog has a microchip or has been issued a tattoo number from the County Treasurer. The fee for a lifetime license is $31 for a spayed or neutered dog; $51 for a non-neutered or non-spayed dog. The reduced rate charged senior citizens is $31 and individuals with disabilities pay $21 for a lifetime license. Lifetime licenses are only available at the County Treasurer’s office.
- Microchipping and tattoo numbers are a permanent alternative offered by most veterinarians, and are helpful if the dog’s collar slips off. Microchipping requires the insertion of a numbered chip underneath a pet’s shoulder blades. If lost, a veterinarian or humane worker can scan the chip and determine the pet’s owner. Microchip fees vary by veterinarians and range from $25 to $50 for a chip.
- The Return a Lost Dog Program is a 24-hour online service that helps reunite missing dogs with their owners. This service is particularly helpful at nights and on weekends or holidays when humane shelters are not open. Residents who find a dog can visit the County Web site at www.co.delaware.pa.us, click on the Return a Lost Dog icon, and gain access to the dog owner’s phone number. With this process, lost dogs don’t have to be turned over to animal wardens or shelters because the dog finder can quickly contact the owner. County police officers and animal wardens monitor the program to ensure that registered pets are returned quickly and safely.
For information on obtaining a 2010 dog license or the Return a Lost Dog program, call (610) 891-4276. Licenses, forms and information on the Return a Lost Dog Program and microchipping are available at the County Treasurer’s Office, on the ground floor of the Government Center in Media. The forms can also be downloaded from the County Web site at www.co.delaware.pa.us.
Microchip and tattoo forms are not available online and must be acquired at the Treasurer’s Office. If registering by mail, residents must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so the license can be mailed back to them.
Fees from licensing are used by the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement to inspect and license kennels, investigate dog bites, prevent and investigate cruelty to dogs, assist humane organizations and provide educational services on dog ownership.
For information about Pennsylvania dog laws, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Web site at www.agriculture.state.pa.us and go to the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement.
In addition to the Delaware County Government Center in Media, dog licenses can also be obtained at the following locations:
Delaware County Department of Parks and Recreation, Leedom House, Rose Tree Park, 1621 N. Providence Road, Upper Providence; Arts Animals, 212 MacDade Blvd., Holmes; Brookhaven Borough Hall, 2 Cambridge Road, Brookhaven; Chester Pike Animal Hospital, 304 N. Chester Pike, Glenolden; Community Animal Hospital, 2625 West Chester Pike, Broomall; Glencroft Veterinary Hospital, 6 E. Glenolden Ave., Glenolden; Glenolden Veterinary Hospital, 405 MacDade Blvd., Glenolden.
Also: Golden Mile Pet Services, 511 W. Baltimore Pike, Clifton Heights; Haverford Township, 2325 Darby Road, Haverford; Lansdowne Borough, 12 E. Baltimore Pike, Lansdowne; Middletown Township, 27 N. Pennell Road, Middletown; Old Marple Veterinary Clinic, 820 W. Springfield Road; and Prince’s Pet Goodies, 511 State Road, Springfield.
Also Seven Seas, 3500 Edgemont Ave., Brookhaven and Southeast Archery, 1852 Delmar Dr., Folcroft; Upland Borough, Main Street and Castle Avenue, Upland; and the Upper Darby Township Building, 100 Garrett Road.