Last Chance: Dog and Cat License Renewals

What should Ginger, Fido, Max or Snowball (proper dog and cat names, right?) all have in common if they live in Summit? A valid pet license!

Drop off your renewal notice at the health department located at City Hall.

According to a press release from the city:

Registration renewal notices have been sent to all owners of licensed dogs and cats. The license year begins on June 1, 2012. 

State law requires the licensing of every dog that has either reached the age of 7 months, or has a set of permanent teeth. By local ordinance, cats are licensed at 7 months. 

Proof of rabies protection must accompany your application. The State Department of Health has advised that municipalities may NOT license pets whose rabies vaccination expires more than two months prior to end of license year. Therefore, if the rabies expiration date on the enclosed renewal notice is March 30, 2013 or before, you must submit proof of rabies vaccination (photocopy acceptable) with an expiration date of March 31, 2013 or later. 

For medical reasons, some puppies or dogs are given a 1-year inoculation that may not cover the registration period. Call the for guidance in these cases. 

All animals should be registered within ten days of moving to Summit or reaching licensing age. However, a current license for another New Jersey municipality is accepted as compliance. When that license expires, the animal must be licensed in Summit. 

All renewal notices must be received by the city's health department no later than the end of business day on Thursday, May 31, 2012, thereafter a late fee of $10.00 per pet will apply. There is no late fee for first time registration. 

Summit residents with questions about licensing or rabies vaccinations should call the Health Department at 277-6464.