That knock on your door may be for Fido, or possibly, Fluffy. King County is sending out canvassers to identify unlicensed pets. The canvassers, who are temporary county employees, will be out every weekend between now and the end of October, sporting county ID badges and carrying pet licensing documents. Indoor and Outdoor Pets Must Be Licensed
Even if your cat never leaves the couch, King County requires that he, or she, have a license. Michelle Wilmot, city of Kent spokeswoman, says even inside, pets sometimes stray.
“They’ll sneak out the door, or they’ll jump a fence,” Wilmot said.
King County canvassers, who are going door to door in Kent and other cities in King County looking for unlicensed animals, are out to educate pet owners, not punish them, according to Wilmot. Owners will be given a temporary permit and will have 30 days to purchase a license.
How Much Does A License Cost?
In King County, licenses for dogs and cats are $30 if the animals are spayed or neutered, $60 if they aren’t. There are discounts for disabled and senior residents and for those with juvenile pets. The fine for having an unlicensed pet is $125 for a spayed animal and $250 for an unspayed pet.
Won't Snoop For Pets
Wilmot says the canvassers have been trained in customer service and will try not be be intrusive.
“There won’t be any looking over fences or looking in people’s windows,” she said.
But, Wilmot says, if there's a dog dish on the porch, the occupants will probably get a visit.
First Pet Canvassing Since 2010
King County hasn’t done a big pet license canvassing project like this since 2010. It’s financially in the county’s interest to do it, though. Money from licenses helps pay for animal shelter adoption programs, prosecution of animal cruelty cases and free rides home for licensed pets that get lost.
Click here for more information on pet licensing in King County.
