Take advantage of Dog License Amnesty Month by visiting a Bradshaw Animal Shelter vaccination clinic and receive a rabies vaccine at no charge with purchase of a dog license. Photo courtesy of Sacramento County

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - January is Dog License Amnesty Month, and all month long Sacramento County is making it easier for dog owners to get their dogs licensed without penalties.

For the entire month, past due fees and fines are waived for dogs that have never been licensed before. If you have been putting it off, this is the perfect time to take care of it without added cost or stress.

In Sacramento County, all dogs and cats over four months old are legally required to be licensed and vaccinated against rabies. This requirement exists to protect pets, people and the community as a whole.

Every dog license requires proof of a current rabies vaccination. Rabies is fatal but preventable, and ensuring dogs are vaccinated is a critical part of keeping our community safe.

Licensing your dog does more than check a box. It has real benefits for both you and your pet.

Lost dogs are reunited with their families faster because a license provides immediate identification. Licensing also helps ensure dogs are vaccinated against rabies, which protects other animals and people. Staying licensed keeps you in compliance with county law and helps you avoid citations or fines down the road.

Bradshaw Animal Shelter will continue to offer vaccination clinics as capacity allows. Pet owners who attend a Bradshaw Animal Shelter vaccination clinic and purchase a dog license at the same time may receive a rabies vaccine at no cost, while supplies and appointment availability last.

Pet owners can find additional low cost rabies vaccination clinic options by visiting the Bradshaw Animal Shelter website at https://animalcare.saccounty.gov/#gsc.tab=0.

Bring your dog to a Bradshaw Animal Shelter vaccination clinic during January. Purchase a dog license while you are there. Your dog will receive a rabies vaccine at no charge with the license purchase.

Dog License Amnesty Month is about education and access, not punishment. Licensing your dog helps keep them safe, supports public health and ensures you are following the law.

If your dog is not licensed yet, January is the easiest and most affordable time to take care of it.