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March 8, 2021
With the current surge in dog adoptions during the COVID-19 quarantine, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department’s Animal Care and Control Department is reminding city dog owners that the annual deadline for licensing their pets is March 31st. All dogs in Boston require a new license every year.
“A license is the quickest way to get your dog home if it’s lost, and it’s the law,” notes Alexis Trzcinski, Director of Animal Care and Control. “A dog license is like ID for your pet. If it’s ever lost, the chances of reuniting you are much higher with a license.”
In preparation for the 2021 license period, the Animal Care and Control Department analyzed last year’s license data to identify the most popular dog names of 2020. The top five dog names registered in Boston were Luna, Bella, Charlie, Lucy, and Lola. Buddy, Riley, Finn, Coco and Winston rounded out the top 25.
All dog owners must license their dogs by Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Dogs must be licensed if they are older than six months. Owners must provide a copy of their dog’s current rabies certificate and proof of neutering or neutering. For a full guide to dog licensing, including a link to licensing your dog online, see the How To Article from Animal Care & Control.
The fees to license your dog are $ 15 for a spayed male or female, or $ 30 for an intact male or female. Dog owners who pay online with a credit card pay a 2.7 percent service charge (the minimum service charge is $ 1.00). License applications can also be picked up in person or requested by post. Walk-in and post-paid payments are accepted by check or money order.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 health emergency, office hours for animal care and control are limited. Please contact the office prior to your visit. Whether you provide your information and payments online, by mail, or in person, your dog’s license will be mailed to you.
When renewing a dog license, you will need to provide your dog’s license number. The dog license fee does not apply to service animals and residents over 70 years of age. Owners must also pay any outstanding animal care and control fines. The fine for an unlicensed dog is $ 50. Please call (617) 635-534 or email animalcontrol@boston.gov if you have any questions about the licensing process or want to update your information in the database.
For the latest social distancing guidelines in Boston City parks, visit our COVID-19 website.
Based on 2020 city license data:
LUNA LUNA BELLA BELLA CHARLIE CHARLIE LUCY LUCY LOLA LOLA DAISY DAISY BAILEY BAILEY COOPER COOPER MAX MAX PENNY PENNY OLIVER OLIVER TEDDY TEDDY MAGGIE MAGGIE STELLA STELLA OLYLIE ROCKLIE MILKLIE MOLLY LOLA BILOUTY BUDY ROCKLIE MILCO
This press release was produced by Boston Parks and Recreation. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
