Dog License Season now until Jan 31

Key Takeaways

• All dogs three-months-old or older must register or renew their license each year between December 1 and January 31.
• Dog Licenses are $12 for a one year license during the December 1-January 31 season or $24 for a late license. 
• Licenses alert the Dog Warden of official ownership and the owner’s contact information if a dog becomes lost or a concern arises. These fees contribute to shelter costs and Dog Warden funds.

Get your license online, or the print the form, or see our 9 registrars, or buy them in our office here: 

Opening Day for Dog License Season a Success

Jefferson- Ashtabula County Auditor David Thomas and Officer Manager Sue Belden celebrated a successful first day of the 2023 Dog License Season Thursday. Licenses are sold between December 1^st and January 31^st each year through the Auditor’s Office and their nine registrars in Ashtabula County.  

“People were ready and excited for the first day of Dog License Season,” said Auditor Thomas. The Auditor’s Office sold 1,003 licenses between online, in person, and mail in sales on December 1^st.

All dogs three-months-old or older must register or renew their license each year between December 1 and January 31. Licenses alert the Dog Warden of official ownership and the owner’s contact information if a dog becomes lost or a concern arises. These fees contribute to shelter costs and Dog Warden funds.

Licenses are $12 for a one-year tag and can be purchased at the Auditor’s Office, online at the Auditor’s Website, or at one of their convenient community partners.

“This is one of the fun parts of the Auditor’s Office jobs and we always look forward to seeing dog owners in the office and hearing about their furry friends,” shared Auditor Thomas.

2022 was a good year for the Auditor’s Office sales as they kept steady with the previous year at 11,146 total active licenses. That includes 20 service tags, 416 permanent licenses, four dangerous animals, and 315 kennel tags.

“I’m very proud of Sue and our staff for the great work they did this past year,” stated Auditor Thomas. “The more licenses we sell, the more dogs are protected and the better our shelters and Dog Warden program can serve the public.”

The Auditor’s Office continued several contests this past year and outreach efforts despite having to postpone their Bark in the Park event. Auditor Thomas anticipates selling at several stores and doing a festival in the upcoming year.

Thomas believes the county is moving in the right direction as awareness of Dog Licenses becomes more known. “We still have a ways to go,” Auditor Thomas said. “Using an average 1.5 dogs per household, our county likely has around 60,000 dogs so there are many which are not licensed.” Of those licensed though, the top three most common breeds were Labrador retrievers, German shepherds, and beagles in Ashtabula County. Which has stayed consistent in Thomas’ first term in office.   

The licenses collected in roughly $160,000 in 2022 from fees and penalties. These funds are allocated to the Ashtabula County Dog Warden and county animal shelters. “I don’t believe in raising the dog license fee but we do have a need for more revenue for the Dog Warden and shelters as costs increase and there are more animals in the county,” explained Auditor Thomas. “I would rather try to sell more licenses than ask the Commissioners to raise the $12 fee.”

While the $12 license fee is the lowest in the area, instead of raising the license fee Thomas shared that his office has focused on increasing the number of dogs participating and paying the license fee. He points to the outreach such as selling at local stores, kid contests, and communication with the public to meet this goal of increased sales.

The goal for 2023 is 11,000 licenses as the office returns to more community events and outreach in the new year.

2022 also saw a new name in the top list of dog names as third most popular Sadie joined Bella at number one and Max at number two.

(Pictured is Auditor David Thomas with his adopted puppy Liberty who received her 2023 dog license for the year. The color in the new year is yellow.)