License Your Dog Or You May Face Fines, Bucks County Treasurer Says

Bucks County Treasurer Mark Moffa is urging pet owners to ensure their dogs are licensed before state dog wardens begin enforcement sweeps next month.

Under Pennsylvania law, all dogs must be licensed at the time of purchase or adoption.

Owners found with unlicensed pets could face fines of up to $500 per dog, in addition to court costs.

While the Jan. 1 deadline for 2026 licenses has passed, state dog wardens will begin active enforcement efforts in Bucks County starting in March, the treasurer’s office said.

“Licensing your dog isn’t just a legal requirement—it’s a simple step that can make all the difference when a pet goes missing,” Moffa said.

Moffa stated the importance of visible identification, sharing a personal account of when his family’s beagle, Sox, got loose. He said the family felt relief knowing the dog was wearing a tag that would allow a finder to quickly identify the owner through the treasurer’s office.

Unlike microchips, which require a specialized scanner, a license tag is immediately visible to neighbors or animal control officers.

In 2024, only 3 percent of stray dogs in Pennsylvania were returned directly to their owners. In addition, 23 percent of strays were moved to shelters outside their home counties because of limited local space, according to state data.

Beyond individual pet safety, license fees fund the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement. The funds support animal control, public safety initiatives, and kennel inspections.

According to the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, the agency’s work last year included:

• Inspecting more than 5,500 kennels and licensing nearly 2,800 facilities.
• Revoking or refusing licenses for 10 kennels, some of which appeared on the Humane Society of the U.S. puppy mill list.
• Issuing 36 civil penalties for illegal advertising and kennel violations.
• Monitoring 826 dogs officially deemed dangerous by magisterial judges.

Moffa noted that the cost of a license is lower than the potential legal penalties.

Owners can purchase annual licenses or research lifetime options at licenseyourdogpa.pa.gov.

Residents seeking more information can contact the Bucks County Treasurer’s Office at 215-368-6244 or treasurer@buckscounty.org.