BALLYMEADE

Your dog must be licensed by March 1st in New Castle County

News from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

February 14, 2008

Volume 38, Number 64 

Contact: Lynn Herman, Delaware Dog Control Administrator, phone: (302)

739-9911 or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, phone: (302) 739-9902

DNREC Reminds Delaware Pet Owners: License Your Dog by March 1

DNREC's Division of Fish and Wildlife urges Delaware dog owners to license

their pets by March 1. Delaware law requires that all dogs six months and

older must be licensed, except for Seeing Eye, lead or guide dogs, and all

licensing is handled through DNREC except for dogs residing in the City of

Wilmington. The fine for an unlicensed dog ranges from $50 to $100 for the

first offense.

Licenses can be obtained in person from the Division of Fish and Wildlife

licensing desk at DNREC's main office at 89 Kings Highway, Dover, or from

many veterinary clinics, pet shops, sporting goods and department stores

throughout the state. For more information, including a complete listing

of license agents, or to purchase a license online, please visit

www.fw.delaware.gov/info/DogControl.htm.

To encourage spaying and neutering, licenses for sterilized dogs cost $3

for one year and licenses for unsterilized dogs are $6. Two-year and

three-year licenses are available if a rabies certificate is valid for the

period. A rabies vaccination certificate including vaccination and

expiration dates is required to obtain a license. The rabies expiration

date must occur after March 1 of the year the dog license expires.

According to Patrick Emory, Director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife,

purchasing a license and attaching it to their dog's collar is one of the

most important things an owner can do to protect their dog. "Each year

hundreds of dogs are lost or separated from their owners. A dog license is

the best way to ensure that if this happens, a dog and its owner can be

reunited safely and quickly," he said.

Funds from license sales help support the statewide dog control program,

for which the Kent County SPCA has held the contract since 2006.

Responsibilities for dog control include picking up stray dogs, answering

dog complaints, responding to dangerous dog issues and inspecting dog

kennels. To report dog control problems, including the location of

shelters to receive stray dogs, call the Kent County SPCA at 302-698-3006

or 888-352-7722 toll-free.

Wilmington residents should contact the Delaware SPCA at Stanton by

calling 302-998-2281 or the Delaware Humane Association at 302-571-0111

for information on licensing their dogs.

To report information on a dog bite or possible rabies exposure, call the

Rabies Control 24-Hour Hotline at 302-744-4545.

For more information on DNREC's dog license program, contact Lynn Herman,

Delaware Dog Control Administrator, at 302-739-9911.

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This story is also available on DNREC Online at

http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnrec2000/admin/press/story1.asp?PRID=2826 or

check the DNREC Online Home Page at http://www.dnrec.state.de.us .