Submitted by San Juan County.

Submitted by San Juan County.

The San Juan County Auditor’s Office is ready for the 2023 dog licensing season! Each year, the department has the pleasure of recognizing a ‘Celebrity Dog’ and issuing them the first dog tag. Competition in 2022 was steep and just one Celebrity Dog could not be crowned — so the honor goes to Jet and Ruffles, the Crisis Response Canines for San Juan County! Jet and Ruffles encourage all pet owners to license their dogs as soon as possible in the new year.

Ruffles and her owner Raquel Lackey support first responders and spend time with children learning to read in an effort to promote literacy. Jet and his owner Cynthia Parkin joined the Fire Department in 2021 after certifying through National Crisis Response Canines. They remain grateful for the opportunity to support first responders and any community members affected by crisis or trauma.

All dogs in San Juan County are required to be licensed annually. Dog licenses are available January 3, and current fees are $15 for dogs that are spayed or neutered and $40 for “natural” canines. A late fee of $10 applies to licenses purchased after March 31. Add a photo of your dog for an additional $5 per year, which will display when the dog’s license number is looked up. This additional measure of security adds priceless peace of mind if a dog is lost. Learn more about registering your dog here: sanjuanco.com/174/Dog-Licenses

San Juan County dog license fees fund the licensing program and an account that compensates residents for livestock killed or injured by stray, dangerous dogs. The balance of collected fees is distributed to the local Animal Protection Societies for impound services.

Dog licenses are available at a variety of San Juan County locations. If you live on San Juan Island, get your tag at the San Juan County Auditor’s office or the Animal Protection Society Friday Harbor. Orcas Island residents can get a tag at Pawki’s, Eastsound Kennels, or Orcas Animal Protection Society. Lopez Island residents can visit Sunset Builders Supply or Lopez Animal Protection Society. For added convenience, licenses can also be purchased through the mail. The address is: San Juan County Auditor, ATTN: Dog Licensing, P.O. Box 638, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.