The Facts Concerning Dog Licensing in PA
Adobe Acrobat version of the PA Dog License form.
- Dogs are required by law to be licensed after three months of age. Lincenses must be renewed every year by January 1 unless you obtain a lifetime license. The cost is $6 for spayed/neutered dogs and $8 for unaltered dogs. There is a possible $0.50 additional fee if you buy from somewhere outside your County Treasurer's office.
- Special rates are available for dog owners 65 years or older, or who are disabled under PA law. They are $3 for spayed/neutered dogs and $5 for unaltered dogs. The processing fees mentioned above may also apply here.
- A license is the only legal protection your dog has should it get lost and picked up by authorities. The law requires that the owner of a licensed dog be notified in writing that the dog has been found and detained by a specific authority. A licensed dog must be held for you for a minimum of 5 days. Without a license the authorities are not required to attempt to find you, and they need only hold the dog for 48 hours. After that time the dog maybe adopted out or disposed of.
- A lifetime license may be obtained by getting paperwork from your county treasurer, having the dog tattooed and then filing the paperwork. This costs $50 for unaltered dogs, $30 for spayed/neutered dogs, $20 for spayed/neutered dogs owned by Senior Citizens or persons with disabilities and $30 for unaltered dogs owned by Senior Citizens or persons with disabilities. This is a once per lifetime fee.
- You may obtain more information on dog licensing from your County Treasurer's office. If your County is not yet listed here, consult the blue pages in your phone book.
- There is no penalty for buying your dog's license late, but there may be a fine of upto $300 if a Dog Warden catches your dog without a license.
- For further assistance contact the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement at 717 787-3062.
Go back to PFDC home page