The Lewiston City Clerk’s Department reminds all Lewiston dog owners that the one-month grace period for licensing their pets is scheduled to expire Tuesday, Jan. 31.
Per state law, a dog’s license expires Dec. 31 of each year, and a $25 state late fine will be added to each license for all dogs licensed after Jan. 31.
According to the City Clerk’s Office, only about 70 percent of the dogs that were licensed in 2022 have been re-licensed for the new year.
“We do not want our residents to have to pay the $25 late fine, but it is a state requirement. In November, we sent letters to all owners of dogs licensed in 2022 to remind them that the licenses expire Dec. 31 and the late fine is effective Feb. 1,” said City Clerk Kathy Montejo, according to a news release from the City Clerk’s Department.
Dog license fees are $11 for a male or female dog and $6 for a spayed or neutered animal, which means the late fine is more than the cost of the license itself.
“We have over 800 dogs that still need to be re-licensed, which means that we will be doing a lot of dog licensing during the next month, before the Jan. 31 late fine begins, or many of our residents will have to pay the state-mandated late fee,” said Montejo. Per state requirements, the late fine is assessed per dog and not per household.
Many dog owners may not have re-licensed their pet because they may have misplaced the animal’s rabies certificate, which is required to be shown at the time of licensing. Pet owners should contact their veterinarian’s office to request a duplicate copy of the rabies certificate if they cannot locate their copy.
As a convenience, dog owners can mail in their license renewal information, and the tag for the new year will be mailed back to the owner. The dog owner should mail a copy of the rabies certificate, along with the dog’s name; the owner’s name, address, phone number; and a check payable to the city of Lewiston for the correct amount.
Residents also can register their dog online at lewistonmaine.gov.
Rabies is a serious problem in Maine. Residents are urged to take the time to protect their pet against this deadly virus. If an animal is suspected of having rabies, it is quarantined. If during this time, the signs of rabies still appear, the only way to test an animal for rabies is to euthanize the animal. Dog licensing ensures rabies vaccination, which protects the health of pets, according to the release.
The City Clerk’s Department is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information, call 207-513-3124.
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