Town Clerk: Expects 1,400 Dog Licenses for This Year

Adding dog licensing to your list of New Year’s resolutions is a good idea, and the Town of Winthrop has made it easier than ever before. On a mission to save time for dog owners, all licenses can be purchased online at:

https://www.town.winthrop.ma.us/town-clerk/pages/dog-licenses.

“We are trying to improve services and wait times with the limited staff hours available, therefore we are no longer processing dog tags at our counter,” said Town Clerk, Carla Vitale.” This allows us to spend our time processing the orders quicker and attend to other work like the census and preparing for the March election.”

Residents that visit the Town Hall office will be redirected and advised to complete required paperwork and put it in a locked box that is checked daily, however; the fastest method is online.

A license tag is critical for several reasons. First and foremost it is the law. Failing to have a license displayed on your dog’s collar, will result in a hefty fine, which is typically higher than the cost of the license itself. The law requires all dogs over six months of age to be licensed by March 1 every year.

In addition to the legal aspect of dog licensing, safety is another concern, and licensed dogs will be prioritized at a shelter, while unlicensed dogs may be euthanized if an owner does not claim them in a certain window of time. A license tag helps animal control and shelters quickly identify your dog, getting him or her back to you safely. The license allows a rescue organization to look up a dog owner’s contact info in an efficient manner.

“The growing list of dogs in Winthrop has made licensing become a hefty job, one that is far more efficient when done online,” said Vitale, who would like to remind residents that only service dogs are allowed in public buildings.

Dog licenses for the year 2020 will be available for purchase beginning Jan. 2.

There are two ways to get a license:

1. Do it immediately in a few minutes online at

http://www.town.winthrop.ma.us/town-clerk/pages/dog-licenses

2. Wait until the middle of January for the annual census to be mailed to your home,

on the bottom will be a mail in slip, you can send in check and proof of rabies in

the same envelope as the census and tag will be mailed to you.

Late fees begin April 1.