Sheriff’s Office to sell county dog licenses

VW independent/submitted information

Van Wert County Sheriff Thomas M. Riggenbach announced the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office will sell dog licenses to Van Wert County residents during specific times of the year.  This allows citizens an additional location to purchase a dog license, in addition to the Van Wert County Auditor’s Office.

The sale of dog licenses for people who get a new dog began Thursday and will continue at the Sheriff’s Office during the year until the Van Wert County auditor determines it is time to stop dog license sales, typically at some point in the month of November. Dog licenses will be available for sale 24 hours a day at the Sheriff’s Office.

The cost of a one-year dog license is currently $15, and the Sheriff’s Office will only sell a one-year dog license. The Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office accepts payment in the form of cash or check. Checks must be made out to Van Wert County Auditor Nancy Dixon.

Sheriff Riggenbach said a dog license is required for every person who owns, keeps, or harbors a dog more than 3 months of age. Ohio Revised Code Section 955.01(B) states: “If the application for registration is not filed and the registration fee paid, on or before the 31st day of the applicable January of each year, or, if the board of county commissioners by resolution has extended the date to a date later than the 31st day of January, the date established by the board, the auditor shall assess a penalty in an amount equal to the registration fee for one year upon the owner, keeper, or harborer, which shall be paid with the registration fee.”

County residents who did not buy a 2018 dog license for their current dog(s) by January 31 can now buy dog licenses at the Sheriff’s Office and will be required to pay the penalty of $15 per license at the time they buy the license, the same procedure as if they were to go to the Van Wert County Auditor’s Office to buy a dog license.

Sheriff Riggenbach noted that part of the duties performed by the dog warden includes conducting dog license enforcement throughout Van Wert County, and encourages everyone who has a dog over 3 months of age to obtain a 2018 dog license.