Dog licenses are not only the law - they can save your dog's life.

No matter how careful you are, at some time, it is possible for your dog to slip out of your control. Whether sneaking out the front door, jumping a fence, or slipping out of his collar to chase a squirrel during a walk, accidents do happen. Even if your pet never runs, its possible your pet could get lost due to a tragic situation, like a break-in at your house or a car accident while transporting your pet. There is no excuse not to have a tag for your pet.

In order to make sure that someone who finds your dog can locate you, having a dog license, along with an identification tag, can be crucial in reuniting you with your pet. Also, while county dog wardens only need to keep an unlicensed dogs for a few days before deciding on whether it's adoptable, BY OHIO LAW, A COUNTY DOG WARDEN MUST KEEP A DOG WITH A CURRENT LICENSE FOR 14 DAYS BEFORE DETERMINING THE FUTURE OF THAT DOG. That, in itself, is worth the nominal yearly fee to stay legal.

Ohio law requires every dog to be licensed in their county of residence. License renewals are due between December 1 & January 31. New licenses must be obtained within 30 days of arrival in the county or when a puppy reaches the age of three months.

Although this is state law, the license programs are administered by county auditors and fees are set by the county commissioners. License money is deposited in the dog and kennel fund to pay farmers for livestock lost to unidentified dogs, finance the administration of the program, and fund the incarceration of stray dogs.

To get dog licenses, check with your county auditor or try doglicense.com.