Maine law requires dog owners to license their pets at least every six months. This must be done annually in the municipality where the dog is kept. Most residents know this. Few people consider what happens on the ground when that requirement is not met. They might also not realize how a license tag changes the outcome of a call I respond to. As the Animal Control Officer for Buckfield, Hartford, Sumner, West Paris, Stoneham, and the Oxford County Unorganized Territories, I find licensing to be one of the most practical tools. It helps me reunite lost animals with their owners quickly. This practice keeps everyone safe.
When a Dog Has a Tag
I pick up a dog at large. If it has a current license tag, I can identify the owner within minutes. The tag number is registered to your municipality. I check the online database or call the clerk. I get your information, and you get your dog back the same day in most cases. The whole process is fast because the information is already in the system.
A current license also tells me the dog is vaccinated against rabies. That matters if the dog has been in contact with other animals or people during the time it was loose. It eliminates a public health question before it becomes a problem.
When a Dog Does Not Have a Tag
Without a tag, I have no way to identify ownership in the field. The dog goes to the shelter. A hold period begins. You have to locate the shelter. Then, you prove ownership and pay impoundment fees. In some cases, you might need to license the dog before it is released. That process takes days and costs significantly more than a license would have.
If the dog has been involved in a bite or has had contact with a potentially rabid animal while it was loose, there are additional complications. This happens when there is a lack of vaccination records. Quarantine periods extend the timeline further.
None of that is good for the dog, and none of it is good for you.
Licensing Is Not Just for the Town Clerk
Maine now has a statewide online dog licensing portal available at maine.gov/dacf/ahw/animal_welfare/doglicense/index.shtml.
The portal is open from October 15th through January 31st each year. To license online you must upload a copy of your rabies certificate in PDF, Word, or JPG format. The online fee is $13.75 for an intact dog and $8.75 for a spayed or neutered dog, which includes a $1 service fee per license on top of the standard state fee. Many veterinarians and licensed animal shelters are also authorized to issue licenses in person. You do not have to wait for a weekday window at the town office to get this done.
Licenses are due by January 31st. The late fee is $25 and it kicks in February 1st without a grace period. Getting this done in October or November when renewals open is easier than dealing with it in January when clerks are busy processing a rush.
The Tag on the Collar
Under 7§3923-B, the license tag must be attached to a collar worn by the dog at all times. The only exceptions are when the dog is on your property, or when it is off your property for hunting, training, or exhibition. In those off-property situations, you must be able to produce proof of licensure within 24 hours of a request from any law enforcement officer, humane agent, or game warden.
This is the part that trips people up. The tag has to be on the collar and the collar has to be on the dog. A license sitting in a drawer at home does not help me identify your dog in the field.
Dangerous and Nuisance Dogs
If a court has determined your dog is a dangerous dog, the annual license fee increases to $100 and the late fee jumps to $150. Nuisance dog licenses are $30 annually with a $70 late fee. These dogs also cannot be licensed online and must be licensed in person at the municipal clerk’s office. The license designation follows the dog in the statewide database.
The Bottom Line
Licensing your dog by January 31st every year is a ten-minute task that protects your dog, speeds up the process if something goes wrong, and keeps you on the right side of state law. It is one of the simplest things you can do as a responsible dog owner in western Maine.
For full details on fees, deadlines, exemptions, and where to license, see the Dog Licensing post. If you have questions, contact me at brandon@oxfordaco.com. For more on Maine animal laws, see the Maine Laws section or the Animal Control FAQ.
