Note: Boston’s dog licensing deadline is March 31
BOSTON – Wednesday, January 31, 2024 – The Animal Care and Control Division of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department to city dog owners that the annual deadline for licensing their pets is March 31. All dogs in Boston require a new license each year.
“Licensing your pet is not only a legal requirement, but it also serves as their identity,” said Alexis Trzcinski, the Director of Animal Care and Control. “We always advise pet owners that having a license provides a quicker way for them to be reunited with you if they get lost.”
All dog owners must have their dogs licensed by Thursday, March 31, 2024. Dogs must be licensed if they are older than six months. Owners must provide a copy of their dog’s current rabies certificate. For spayed and neutered pets, owners must submit proof of spaying or neutering if they have not done so before.
Licensing fees are $15 for a neutered male or spayed female or $30 for an intact male or female. The dog licensing fee is waived for service animals and residents age 70 and older. Owners must also pay any outstanding fines to Animal Care and Control. The fine for an unlicensed dog is $50.
In preparation for the 2024 licensing deadline, the Animal Care and Control Division analyzed licensing data from the past year to reveal the most popular dog names in 2023.
woman
Luna
Bella
Daisy
Lucy
Rosie
Penny
grandma
Stella
Millie
winnie
Man
Charlie
Teddy
Max
Milo
Cooper
Leo
Finn
Winston
Oliver
Ollie
For an in-depth guide to dog licensing, including a link to license your dog online, visit the Animal Care and Control how-to article. Please call (617) 635-5348 or email [email protected] with any questions about the licensing process or to update your database information.
The City of Boston will also host a series of dog licensing and pet vaccination clinics from 10 am to 2 pm every Saturday from March 2 through June 15 at seven BCYF community centers. For details, fees, and location, please visit boston.gov/animals, or call (617) 635-1800.
