Got a pet? Better get a license.
Following the Bellevue City Council’s approval Monday of a new animal control ordinance, pet owners who fail to obtain pet licenses now face a “no-tolerance” fine – $125 for a spayed or neutered pet; $250 for an unaltered pet.
Residents have an amnesty period, until Oct. 1, to purchase a license for unlicensed pets without facing a fine.
The fines come along with changes in license fees, which help support the costs of providing animal care and control for Bellevue and 26 other cities.
The cost for pet licenses for spayed animals will remain unchanged at $30, but will be reduced to $60 for an unaltered pet (previously $90).
There are a number of discounts for disabled and senior residents, as well as for those with juvenile pets up to six months old.
Also as a result of the new ordinance, dog owners will be fined for not picking up waste deposited by their pet on public or private property in Bellevue.
All dogs and cats over eight weeks of age in Bellevue must have licenses. Residents can still purchase pet licenses in person at the Service First desk at City Hall or online.
King County pet licenses come with many benefits including:
The first time your pet is found, King County will attempt to skip the shelter and deliver the pet to your home.
Licensed pets have a longer stray hold at the shelter to give residents a chance to locate a lost pet before it is made available for adoption.
The Vacation Pet Alert Program allows residents to provide contact information for a pet’s caretaker while they are away so that King County will have the correct contact information if something happens while the owner cannot be reached.
Pet license fees fund programs that help thousands of homeless animals in King County find new homes each year, and pay for services such as spay/neuter programs.
Licensed missing pets are found faster by reporting them to Regional Animal Services. If a resident finds a stray pet wearing a pet license, they simply need to call the phone number on the license to get contact information for the owner, even after business hours.
