Police K-9 kicks off dog licensing season with a twist

“My dignity was intact,” Keith chuckled later. “He is a sweet animal. He was excited at all the attention he was getting. ... After all was said and done, he gave me a kiss.”

The county auditor’s office said the issue of licenses is important, though, including as a quick way to reunite owners with their dogs if they get lost. This year, the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center (ARC) has helped reunite more than 600 dogs with their owners, according to the auditor’s office.

Dog licenses are on sale from Dec. 1 through Jan. 31 at www.mcohio.org/dogs. The fee is $20 for spayed or neutered dogs and $24 for dogs who have not been spayed or neutered. Dog licenses must be renewed each year. Under Ohio law, all dogs older than 3 months must be licensed.

The kick-off event took place Wednesday at Flyer Field Dog Park in Huber Heights, which was named after Flyer, a stray dog adopted by Wilbur Wright. The park opened in August 2020 and has placards telling Flyer’s story.

Many Montgomery County residents received their dog registration renewal notices in the mail Wednesday as well. More than 56,000 dog licenses were sold for 2021 in the county, with more than 56% purchased online.

“These days, more dog owners are buying their licenses online, from the safety and convenience of their home,” said Keith. “It is fast and easy to get a 2022 dog license online, so I encourage dog owners to take advantage of that opportunity to keep their pet safe.”

Eddie, Wednesday’s honored pup, works with Huber Heights Police Officer Cory Siegrist on criminal apprehension, evidence recovery, suspect tracking and narcotics detection. Siegrist said licenses are important for all dogs.

“A lot of dogs go running free or get loose from their homes,” he said. “Having a proper dog license does a lot to get them back to their families and to the kids that enjoy their company.”

Proceeds from the licenses go to ARC to help care for stray and lost animals. For more information on dog licenses, visit www.mcohio.org/dogs or call 937-225-4314.