Time to License Your Dog

By Richard Debendetto, Health Department Director

The Middletown Township Health Department and Animal Control will be conducting the annual dog license renewal in January 2012. In preparation, renewal forms will be mailed starting in late December. This time of year can be very hectic since we are consumed with so many holidays and the New Year, but please do not misplace your documents. Even if the dog license renewal reminder gets lost in the mail, they are still due in January as noted on the front of your current license. Dog owners have the full month of January to renew their licenses, but many people have had to pay late fees because they forgot about the deadline. All renewals postmarked by January 31^st will be accepted without a late fee being assessed.

Please remember that all dogs must be licensed. The fees are $15.00 for a spayed/neutered animal and $20.00 if not altered. You must send proof of the spayed/neutered procedure if this is the first-time you are claiming the reduced fee

In addition, all rabies vaccinations must not expire prior to October 1, 2012. If they expire on Sept 30, 2012 or earlier, the application will be returned until a booster shot is given, which will lead to a delay in licensing your dog and a late fee being charged. If a medical issue prevents the dog from receiving a rabies vaccination, please discuss this with your veterinarian to see if they will issue a medical waiver on a VPH-28 form. This medical waiver is only applicable for medical conditions documented by the veterinarian and must be valid up to October 2012.  If you need to find a free rabies clinic, do not hesitate to contact the Animal Control Clerk, as we keep a list of any clinics in the county that may be available.

Starting February 1, 2012 a $5.00 late fee will be added to the cost of the license. A progressive $2.00 fee is assessed each month starting in March. So a late fee of $7.00 is charged on March 1^st, $9.00 on April 1^st and so on. 

If you need either the dog license application or the VPH-28 form, please visit www.middletownnj.org and look under forms and resources for the Health Department. Animal Control can be contacted at 732-615-2094 to answer your questions.