Dog tags going on sale

SANDUSKY — If you own a dog in Erie County, it's time to get your annual dog tag. Dog licenses will be on sale from Dec. 1 to Jan. 31. Why get them? One good reason to get a tag is that it's the law. If your dog doesn't have a tag, you could get a citation that brings a fine of up to $250 and court costs. And if you have to buy a dog tag late, there are late fees assessed. But there's an even better reason to get a tag, said Barb Knapp, Erie County's dog warden. If your dog gets lost because it gets out of the yard or runs out the door, a tag makes it easier for your pet to be returned to you. When an owner purchases a dog tag, the information is stored, and Erie County law enforcement officers get access to that database 24 hours a day, making it easier for a lost dog to be reunited with the owner. A dog tag also provides additional protection if a stray dog is picked up and taken to the Erie County Dog Pound. A stray dog that doesn't have a tag can be put up for adoption within three days. But if the dog has a tag, it must be kept for 14 days before being adopted out. In addition, by law, if a dog with a serious injury is brought to the shelter and the animal has a tag, it must be taken to the vet to be cared for, Knapp said. Note that dog owners are required to display the tag on the dog's collar. Lost tags can be replaced for $5 each. Buying a dog tag also supports the operations of the Erie County Dog Pound, which provides a warm, safe home for stray dogs and carries out other animal-related duties," Knapp said. The dog pound is self-supporting, relying upon dog tag sales and donations, and does not receive money from Erie County's general fund. Where to get them? Dog tags are available online at doglicenses.us/oh/erie and may also be purchased throughout Erie County at many different locations. Here are the locations for getting dog tags: • Bay View Center, Bay View • Chelsea Dog, Sandusky • Civista Banking Co. in Berlin Heights, Castalia and on East Perkins Avenue in Sandusky • Country Breeze, Vermilion • Dairy Stop, Vermilion • Dave's Food Mart, Milan • DogGone Gorgeous, Sandusky • Drug Mart, Huron • Erie County auditor's office, Sandusky • Erie County dog warden's office, Sandusky • Firelands Animal Hospital, Huron • Island Market, Kelleys Island • Lakeshore Veterinarian Hospital, Sandusky • Pet Supplies Plus, Sandusky • Sandusky Animal Hospital, Sandusky • Sandusky Food & Wine, Sandusky • Sandusky License Bureau (BMV), Sandusky • Strawberry Hill Market, Sandusky • Village Drive Thru, Milan • York Animal Hospital, Bellevue • 2nd Roe Feeds & Seeds, Monroeville