Dog tag sales underway in Holmes County
The annual dog registration, required by the State of Ohio, began Dec. 1 and is running through the end of January.
Holmes County auditor Jackie McKee said a license is a lost dog's ticket home and the law, and dogs are required to wear their current license.
The annual dog registration, required by the State of Ohio, began Dec. 1 and is running through the end of January. It is a service designed to benefit the animal, its owner and the community. The license tag has an assigned identification number that identifies the owner should the dog become lost or separated from its owner.
Ohio law (955.01 ORC) says all dogs more than 3 months of age must be licensed each year no later than Jan. 31. The fee is $17 per dog. After the Jan. 31 deadline, the fee is $34 per dog. You must be 18 or older to apply for a dog license.
If you have not licensed your dog in the past, there is no penalty to license your pet for the new year. If you already license your dog, a new license form will be mailed by Dec. 1 along with the return envelope for your convenience.
There are many options for purchasing 2024 dog licenses. Return the entire application in the provided envelope with the proper fee and the auditor's office will mail your tag back to you. Licenses also may be purchased online. For more information visit the dog license website at holmescountydoglicense.com.
Licenses may be purchased at the auditor's office, 75 E. Clinton St., Millersburg, or at the Holmes County Dog Warden's Department, 5387 County Road 349, Millersburg. Both of these locations can accept debit/credit card payments.
There are many satellite locations throughout the county that also will sell 2024 licenses: Becks Mills General Store, Becks Mills; Farmerstown General Store, Farmerstown; Buckeye Deli, Nashville; Orme Hardware of Berlin; Wolfcreek Veterinary Clinic, Millersburg; Whitmer's Store, Winesburg; Kauffman Country Market, Holmesville; Killbuck Country Market, Killbuck; Mt. Hope Hardware, Mt. Hope; E & H Hardware, Millersburg; Keim Lumber, Charm; and East Holmes Vet Clinic, Berlin.
The above agents may collect an administrative fee of 75 cents per dog in addition to the license fee.
Bring your license form with you when purchasing your new tag. Multiyear dog tags are available in addition to the annual tag option. Three-year and lifetime dog tags are available for purchase at the Holmes County Auditor's Office only.
A kennel license is available at a fee of $85 for owners engaged in the business of breeding dogs for sale. A tag must be purchased for each dog in a kennel that is over the age of 3 months. The kennel license will be sold with five tags; additional tags will be $1 per tag. A kennel license can only be purchased at the auditor's office or at the dog warden's department. Large-volume breeders must purchase a license through the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the tags through the auditor's office.
“When you consider how much pet owners invest to keep their pets healthy, happy and safe, the license fee is a small price to pay for another year's peace of mind,” McKee said.
All license revenue goes toward the operation of the Holmes County Dog Warden's Department & Adoption Center. The department is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.