Yes. Replacement tags can be ordered on DocuPet., by mail or in-person at our El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside and San Diego Campuses.
Replacement tags are $15 for all jurisdictions that San Diego Humane Society serves.
Registered service dog and DD/VD/PN replacement tags are $10 and must be purchase in-person.
ATTN: Replacement Tag, Licensing Department
San Diego Humane Society
5480 Gaines St.
San Diego, CA 92110
Thank you so much for licensing your dog, If your dog is ever missing, a license tag provides a quick and accurate way of notifying you if someone else finds your pet. It also provides proof that your dog has been vaccinated against rabies, as required by law.
Please allow 30 days for processing
You may also email license@sdhumane.org to check on the status of your order
There is a three-week turnaround time on renewals so they might have crossed in the mail. If you notice a problem with your renewal form, please contact us at 619-299-7012 or email license@sdhumane.org so we can make sure that you will not receive another notice.
It is the law.
San Diego County (62.610 and 62.620) and California Health and Safety Code (121690) and the cities of Oceanside (4.17) and Vista (6.07.010) require all dogs to be vaccinated against rabies and to obtain a license within 30 days (a) of all dogs reaching four months of age; (b) of acquiring a dog, or (c) after moving to Escondido, Oceanside, Poway, San Marcos or Vista. Failure to do so within this time will result in a late fee and/or a citation. If your dog ends up at our campus and is licensed, your fees will be less. If an unlicensed and unaltered dog (running at large) is brought to a San Diego Humane campus, the fines to retrieve the dog start at $150 per day. The fines are set by the California Food & Agriculture Code (30804.7) and local ordinances.
Health and Safety code 121690g states that a license cannot exceed the rabies vaccination due date. It also serves as a reminder to update the rabies vaccination.
If your check was returned, there should have been a small form explaining why it was returned (i.e. incorrect payment, need a rabies shot, etc.).
Please make the needed changes and return by the appointed date to avoid any late fees.
If you have any questions, please call 619-299-7012.
Owners can also scan their rabies certificate or take a photo with their phones and send it to license@sdhumane.org. If you do this be sure to leave a call-back number so we can call you and collect payment over the phone.
San Diego Humane Society hosts vaccination clinics at all of our campuses. Click here for schedule information. You can also get your pet vaccinated at your family vet hospital or clinic. You can also get your pet vaccinated at your family vet hospital, clinic or one of these low-cost locations.
After your dog receives the rabies vaccine, take one of the steps below to license your pet. Please note: These steps apply if you are a resident of Carlsbad, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa, Oceanside, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach and Vista.
Please note: If you are licensing a rabies exempt dog you cannot license through DocuPet and need to mail in your license form or come in-person to license.
The money for licenses supports San Diego’s ability to be there for animals in need. The funds collected from licensing costs are credited to the issuing jurisdiction to offset the costs of providing animal care and control for their community. Every licensing fee helps to make our communities safer and better for the animals who live there.
Mail in the renewal form with the correct information and make sure to include the dog's license tag number.
You can change your address by accessing your online DocuPet account or by emailing license@sdhumane.org. with your old address and your most current address.
Yes. Food and Agriculture code (30951) states that the dog needs to have a) a metal tag with name and address of owner; OR b) metal license tag issued by licensing authority.
A license is not required for cats in San Diego Humane Society jurisdictions, which include: Carlsbad, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa Oceanside, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach and Vista.
If you reside in Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, Lemon Grove and National City, please contact with your local jurisdiction for licensing information.
Residents of unincorporated North County and Unincorporated South County must contact the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services for licensing.
California Code of Regulations (2606.4c) states all dogs are required to have a current rabies vaccination in order to obtain a dog license.
If your pet cannot get a rabies vaccination due to a medical condition, please complete this rabies exempt form with your veterinarian. We would need this form signed by your veterinarian explaining why your dog can not receive a rabies vaccination. Rabies exemption form expire after 1 year and must be processed in-person or by mail.
Yes, a dog can still get out of the yard and a license will make it easier to return your dog.
It is the law.
San Diego County (62.610 and 62.620) and California Health and Safety Code (121690) and the cities of Oceanside (4.17) and Vista (6.07.010) require all dogs to be vaccinated against rabies and to obtain a license within 30 days (a) of all dogs reaching four months of age; (b) of acquiring a dog, or (c) after moving to Escondido, Oceanside, Poway, San Marcos or Vista. Failure to do so within this time will result in a late fee and/or a citation. If your dog ends up at our campus and is licensed, your fees will be less. If an unlicensed and unaltered dog (running at large) is brought to a San Diego Humane campus, the fines to retrieve the dog start at $150 per day. The fines are set by the California Food & Agriculture Code (30804.7) and local ordinances.
Yes, your city ordinance states that "it shall be unlawful to own or harbor any dog within the city, except as herein provided, without first having obtained a license. " A rabies tag only provides proof of rabies vaccine and does not qualify as a dog license; a microchip only provides proof of ownership.
Please mark the appropriate box and return the renewal notice or email us at license@sdhumane.org.
Please mark the appropriate box and return the renewal notice or email us at license@sdhumane.org.
If you have moved out of Carlsbad, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, Oceanside, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach and Vista, please mark the appropriate box and return the renewal notice or contact us at license@sdhumane.org.
Yes, there is a $20 late fee per Oceanside (4.18), Vista (6.07.020), Carlsbad, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa, Oceanside, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach and Vista.
The dog owner must purchase a dog license at the San Diego Humane Society Escondido, Oceanside or San Diego Campus. We recommend visiting one of our campus locations in person to process the Administrative Citation. Proof of a current rabies vaccine is required and can be obtained from any state-licensed veterinarian.
California Health and Safety Code (121690) requires all dogs to be vaccinated against rabies and to obtain a license. Once you have obtained a valid dog license, the below information will assist in registering a service dog with San Diego Humane Society.
Requirements for San Diego Humane Society's Service Dog Registration are:
1. A current dog license.
California Health and Safety Code (121690) requires all dogs to be vaccinated against rabies and to obtain a license. All licensing fees are waived (by law) for service dog licensing, once the dog has been established as a Service Dog through San Diego Humane Society.
2. Must be qualified as an official "service dog."
A "service dog," under California law, is a dog trained to help a specific individual with a disability with services such as fetching dropped items, minimal protection work, rescue work, or pulling a wheelchair. More information about what qualifies as a "service" animal can be found here.
3. Must live in San Diego Humane Society's Animal Service Jurisdiction.
If you meet the above qualifications, please email the following three attachments to license@sdhumane.org to begin the service dog registration process.
Once the above information has been received and processed, an application will be returned to your email address with next steps. Please allow 30 days for processing.
Please note, service dog replacement tags are $10.
To renew your dog's municipal license, mail a copy of the dog's rabies booster to San Diego Humane Society Licensing Department at 5480 Gaines St., San Diego, CA 92110. We will update the license through to the rabies expiration date. Service tags (the large gold ones) are lifetime tags and do not need renewal.
Yes. All assistance/service dog's municipal licenses must be kept up to date like a normal license.