Dog License Awareness Month — March has been designated as “Dog License Awareness Month” in the Commonwealth, says State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129). As part of the observance, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is sponsoring a poster contest for students in first through sixth grades, calling on them to create a poster about the importance of dog licensing.
The grand prize winner will receive a $20 cash prize and his or her poster will be featured on the cover of the 2014 Dog Law Enforcement Office Coloring Book. The deadline for submitting a poster is April 30.
State law requires all dogs three months and older to be licensed each year. Owners who fail to license their dogs could face a fine of up to $300 for each unlicensed animal. An annual dog license costs $8.45 and a lifetime license is $51.45. If the animal is spayed or neutered, the annual fee is $6.45 and the lifetime license is $31.45. Discounts are available to older adults and people with disabilities.
Dog licenses can be purchased from a county treasurer or another licensing agent, including retail stores and veterinarian offices. They can also be purchased online, in some cases.
For more information on Pennsylvania’s dog licensing law or the poster contest, the deadline for which is April 30, please visit www.licenseyourdogPA.com.