Dog license fees set to double in March

YOUNGSTOWN — Dog licenses can be renewed through Feb. 28, according to Ralph Meacham, Mahoning County auditor.

Licenses cost $20 until then. In March, renewed licenses double in price to $40.

Three-year dog licenses also are available for $60 and lifetime licenses can be purchased for $200.

Current dog owners will receive a renewal dog license application as a courtesy in the mail this month; however, it is the dog owner's responsibility to purchase a license each year even if they have not received a renewal notice.

Dogs acquired after Feb. 28 must be licensed immediately to avoid penalties.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Meacham encourages dog owners to renew their dog licenses online at www.mahoningcountyoh.gov or through the mail to the Auditor's and Dog Warden's offices.

If a dog owner must renew a dog license in person, he recommends confirming that locations are open. A fee of 2.4 percent of the transaction ($1.49 minimum) is charged when purchasing your license online.

To ensure all dogs are registered pursuant to the requirements in the Ohio Revised Code, the Dog Warden's Office will canvass neighborhoods throughout the county beginning April 15.

"Be sure to register your dog by Feb. 28, 2021 to avoid a penalty, and to assist us in their safe return if your dog becomes lost," said Dianne L. Fry, Mahoning County dog warden, in a news release. "Also, please have your license information and proof of a current rabies vaccination readily available if we come to your home."

If a resident receives a notice for a dog that has passed away or they no longer own, they should notify the Auditor's Office through their website or by phone.

This story was originally published December 7, 2020 at 5:45 AM with the headline "Dog license fees set to double in March."