Deadline for purchasing Ohio dog license is January 31

In Ohio as in other states, dog owners are required to register their dogs. Besides being illegal to not obtain a license, there are many practical reasons for buying a yearly dog license:

Keeping the license tag on your dog at all times is important for your dogs safety. If he should escape the yard, your dog will get home faster and safer if he can be easily identified. This is especially important if your dog runs away and ends up at a kill shelter. Some shelters hold licensed dogs for a longer period of time, while the shelter tries contacting the owner. Unlicensed dogs may be euthanized immediately at some shelters.
The cost of a license is not expensive, usually under $20.00 per dog. But getting hit with penalty fees can double the amount. In Richland County, the fee is $16.00 per dog or $80.00 per kennel. After the deadline, the penalty of an additional $16.00 per dog or $80.00 per kennel will be added. Some cities charge hundreds of dollars for unlicensed pets, and in places like Manassas, Virginia, failure to purchase a dog license is a Class IV Misdemeanor.
By paying a license fee, you will be helping the animals at your local shelter. The fee usually goes to the shelter to help care for the animals there, and allow animal control to bring in more dogs off the streets.
Ohio law allows Animal Control Officers to impound dogs not wearing a license, even if the dog is in the owner's yard. Ohio Revised Code 955.10 states:

A dog's failure at any time to wear a valid tag shall be prima-facie evidence of lack of registration and shall subject any dog found not wearing such tag to impounding, sale, or destruction.

Under Ohio Revised Code 955.01, licenses need to be renewed between December 1 through January 31 of each year, or within thirty days after acquiring a new dog. Puppies must be licensed by the time they are three months old. Owners of dogs that have not been spayed or neutered may have to pay higher registration fees, unless a licensed veterinarian submits a reason why the dog should not be spayed or neutered, such as due to age or medical condition.

Most cities or counties will mail out a form that can be filled out and sent back, and some licenses can be renewed online. Those who have not received a form in the mail yet, or have a new dog, should see if their county or city offers renewal online, or may go to their dog shelter or other licensing locations. In Mansfield, dog licenses may be obtained at:

Richland County Dog Warden’s Office and Shelter
810 North Home Rd.
Mansfield, OH 44906
Phone: 419-774-5892 or 419-774-5893
-or-
The Richland County Auditor
50 Park Avenue East
Mansfield, OH

Ohio has 88 counties; here is a partial list of some of those counties. The links include information, cost and where to purchase dog licensing in the counties listed:

If you would like to receive my future articles, please click on “Subscribe” above the "Comments" section. There is no cost to subscribe. You can also follow the Mansfield Animal Advocacy Examiner on Facebook.