Marion County Dog Services will waive late fees on dog licenses until October 31, 2020. Similar to other county offices, Dog Services has been quick to adapt to community needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dog Services Director Ann Potter said, "During the pandemic many dog owners have been unable to schedule vaccines for their dogs. As veterinary offices adjust to new parameters, owners sometimes must wait several weeks for non-emergency appointments and some owners have faced late fees through no fault of their own." Any Marion County dog owner can license their dogs with no late fee penalty through October 31, 2020.
Dog licenses are required by state law for all dogs six months and older in Oregon. Licensing originally began as a way to mandate rabies vaccinations and has worked to nearly eliminate rabies from our dog population. Rabies is still sporadically found in some wild animals, so it is important that dogs continue to be vaccinated. Licensing also supports care of lost dogs that end up at the dog shelter.
Dog licenses can be obtained at the Marion Dog Shelter located at 3550 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, OR. Licenses can also be purchased through many local veterinary clinics. For a complete list of licensing locations, please visit mcdogs.net or call (503) 566-6966.
