Woof: King County Offers Amnesty for Expired Pet Licenses Through April

Harboring a delinquent dog or cat? The King County folks who administer pet licenses promise not to collar you if you renew your pet's expired license by April 30.

Regional Animal Services of King County, which licenses pets for unincorporated areas and partnering cities such as Kirkland, Bellevue, Redmond, Woodinville, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Sammamish and Enumclaw, is offering a license amnesty for the month of April.

“About 25 percent of our pet owners fail to renew their licenses each year,” says Don Jordan, director of the Seattle Animal Shelter. “While we know this is partially a result of pets either dying, disappearing, moving out of the Puget Sound region, or being given away, many pet owners simply forget to renew their pet licenses. The amnesty program gives people a chance to get caught up without having to pay extra fines that can add up to hundreds of dollars.”

Starting May 1, owners of pets with expired licenses can face fine up to $250 in some cities -- that’s the high rate in Kirkland for unspayed or unneutered pets.

All dogs and cats in King County and partnering cities -- those that contract with the county for animal control services -- must be licensed. In some cities such as Seattle, even potbellied pigs and miniature goats must be licensed.

License rates vary. In Kirkland, for example, the rate is $30 for spayed and neutered dogs and cats and $60 for unaltered dogs and cats.

Find out more about each city’s rules rates on the county web pages here. Answers to frequently asked questions can be found by clicking here.