Whether you’re just moving to Gilbert with your four-legged friend or you’ve lived here for years, it’s important to make yourself aware of the local laws regarding pet ownership. Each state and each county will have their own rules and regulations. At East Valley Animal Hospital (serving Gilbert, Mesa, and Chandler), we’re your friendly local vet, and we’d like to share with you some resources on how to license your dog in Maricopa County, which encompasses Phoenix, Gilbert, Mesa, and Chandler.
Why You Should License Your Dog in Gilbert
In every city or town in Maricopa County, dogs three months of age and older are required to have a license for both the safety of the community and the animal. One of the many benefits to licensing your dog is that if they run away and are found by Animal Control, a license can help reunite you and your canine friend immediately, without your pup experiencing a stressful trip to the shelter. Furthermore, if your licensed dog happens to bite someone and requires quarantine, they may be eligible for home quarantine instead being held at the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control facility or at a veterinary hospital. Licensing your dog in Gilbert also allows the county to keep track of all the pets in their jurisdiction, which increases the safety they can provide the community.
How to License Your Dog in Gilbert
Luckily, getting your pet licensed in Gilbert is quite easy. It can be done from the comfort of your own home, so there’s no reason to put it off. Before you go online to fill out the application, make sure you have this information on hand:
- If your dog is spayed or neutered, you will need documentation from your vet that your dog is sterilized.
- Maricopa County requires all dogs to have their current Rabies Vaccination. According to maricopa.gov, you’ll need the following information from your Completed Rabies Vaccination Certificate:
- Owner’s name and address
- Pet Information (name, breed, color, age, etc.)
- Date that the Rabies Vaccination was administered
- Manufacturer and serial/lot number of the vaccination used
- Term of the vaccination or date revaccination is due
- Veterinarian hospital/clinic where your dog was vaccinated
- Veterinarian’s ID/License number and signature of the person who administered the vaccination
Once you have collected these documents, simply visit the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control licensing website; enter the requested information; and have a credit card on hand for the licensing fee.
And there you have it! If your dog has all his other vaccination cycles completed—for example, his dhpp immunizations (distemper, hepatitis, parvo, and parainfluenza)—he is ready to run around the parks and lie under the warm Phoenix sun. If your furry friend still needs to be brought up to date on his shots in order to license your dog in Gilbert, schedule an appointment with us today! East Valley Animal Hospital is your friendly local vet, and we’re passionate about the health and safety of all the pets in our community—including yours!
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (12/16/2018) Pixaby