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BELLEFONTE -- Centre County Treasurer Colleen Kennedy announced that 2024 dog licenses are now available for sale. State law requires all dogs three months of age and older to be licensed by Jan. 1 of each year. The Dog Law Modernization Bill signed into law in October 2023 will revise license fees and add protections for Pennsylvania dogs, consumers and communities. Beginning Feb. 1, 2024, dog license fees will increase, and the age to license will be lowered to eight weeks of age.
Licenses can be purchased at the Treasurer's office in Bellefonte - in person, by mail or online (convenience fee applies). Visit www.centrecountypa.gov/treasurer for more information. Residents can also purchase annual licenses at the following convenient locations throughout the county:
-- Hosterman & Stover Hardware, Millheim
-- Adrian's Dog House, Pleasant Gap
-- Port Matilda Borough Building, Port Matilda
-- The Pet Pub, State College
-- State College Borough Building, State College
-- Wiscoy for Animals, State College
-- Halfmoon Township Office Building, Stormstown
The current fee for an annual license is $8.70 for unaltered animals, or a reduced fee of $6.70 if the dog is spayed or neutered. Qualified seniors and people with disabilities are eligible for a discount. As a convenience, dog owners have the option of purchasing a one-time Lifetime license for dogs that have either a microchip or tattoo, with confirmation from a veterinarian or kennel. Lifetime licenses are only available from the Treasurer's office.
Treasurer Kennedy encourages dog owners to license their pets by the end of January, before the price increases go into effect. The cost of a license is far less than the penalty for being caught without one. Owners who fail to license their dogs can face a fine of up to $300, plus court costs, for each unlicensed dog. This fine will increase to $500 on Jan. 31, 2024.
License fees support animal control and public safety. The annual fee to license a dog helps keep shelters running and supports the Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement's vital services to protect dogs and the public.
For more information, call the Centre County Treasurer's office at (814) 355-6810, or email treasurer@centrecountypa.gov.