Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding reminds Pennsylvania dog owners to purchase a 2025 license from their county treasurer by Jan. 1. Licenses are not just a legal responsibility of owning a dog, they protect all Pennsylvania dogs and are the best way to bring your pet home quickly if it’s lost.
In October 2023, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed into law bipartisan, commonsense measures to modernize Pennsylvania’s Dog Law to make Pennsylvania a safer, healthier place for dogs in kennels and shelters, and protect communities from stray and dangerous dogs.
“If you love your dog, license your dog,” Redding said. “It’s simple. The best way to protect your dog is with a license. A license on their collar is clearly visible and increases their chance of being returned home rather than ending up in a shelter.
“”Pennsylvanians made it clear that they expect dog owners, kennels, breeders, and shelters to be held to high standards. They want their communities to be safe from stray and dangerous dogs. They want owners to be held responsible when their dog attacks, and they want unscrupulous breeders to be shut down. These updates to state law have put more dog wardens in our communities, made it easier for people buying or adopting a dog to know their dog needs a license, streamlined licensing for kennel businesses, and clarified requirements for boarding kennel owners. They are more evidence of the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to getting stuff done for Pennsylvanians.”
Dogs must be licensed at the point of adoption or purchase, or at three months, if no transfer of ownership has taken place. The youngest age at which a dog can be purchased or adopted in Pennsylvania is eight weeks.
An annual license costs $8.70. Lifetime licenses are available for $52.70 for dogs with permanent identification like a microchip or tattoo. Senior adults and people with disabilities may be eligible for discounted fees of $6.70 for an annual license or $36.70 for a lifetime license.
Owners who fail to license their dogs can face fines of up to $500 for each unlicensed dog.
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