Hitchcock Road Animal Services has partnered with DocuPet to provide an enhanced pet licensing experience for Monterey County and Salinas residents. Your pet’s license now includes DocuPet’s free HomeSafe® 24/7 lost pet service and designer license tags with personalization options. When you register your pet, you will receive a unique license tag to attach to their collar. The new licensing process with DocuPet allows residents to select a standard license tag at no additional charge or upgrade to one of DocuPet’s colorful designer tag styles for an additional fee. To support this transition, late fees will not be charged until September 28th
HITCHCOCK ROAD
Animal Services
Serving Monterey County and the City of Salinas
Hitchcock Road Animals - Licensing
Residents can purchase pet licenses through the mail by sending a completed license application along with the appropriate fee per jurisdiction, proof of spay/neuter (required for altered license) and a current rabies vaccination certificate to:
DocuPet
15 Technology Place, Suite 1
East Syracuse, NY 13057
In person: Tuesday - Saturday 10am-5pm
For questions on your pet's license, please contact DocuPet directly at 1-877-239-6072.
Click here to view current fees here
If you live in unincorporated Monterey County, City of Salinas and all other cities within, your dog must be licensed after it is 4 months old. Cat licensing is voluntary but a rabies vaccination is required once the cat is 4 months old.
A proof of a current Rabies Vaccination is required to obtain a license. Rabies vaccinations can be obtained at your local veterinarian or at local low cost vaccine clinics.
Fee Schedule for Monterey County residents only:
The fee schedule for Monterey County is available here. Please remember to include a $30 late fee if the license has been expired for more than 30 days.
Dog Licenses must be renewed every one to three years depending on when you last licensed your pet and the amount you paid. Monterey County residents can renew online here or click here to download the license application in English.
Did you know? Discounted rates are available for Seniors and Certified Guide/Service Dogs. For the Senior discount, the pet must be spayed or neutered. Call (831) 769-8850 for more information.
Would Your Pet Want to Be Licensed?
They sure would, if they knew it could mean the difference between life and death.
Licensed pets are more likely to:
- Be reunited with their owners if they stray and become lost.
- Receive emergency veterinary treatment if they are injured and you are not home to authorize treatment.
- Be vaccinated against rabies, protecting them and you from contracting this fatal virus.
- Be spayed or neutered, which is of definite benefit to the health of your pet and it reduces many unwanted litters that end up at our shelter.
Licensing your cat and your dog provides your pet with an identification system that can trace your pet back to you any time, day or night. That’s why it is often described as a “security system”.
For extra insurance in the event your pet does get lost, consider micro-chipping. It’s the latest in animal identification. It’s a chip smaller than a grain of rice that is inserted under the skin between the shoulder blades of the animal. When scanned, it will have a number that can be linked back to the animal’s owner, as long as the information is current. Most animal control officers and shelters scan animals for microchips these days. It can literally be a lifesaver, should your pet lose its collar and tags. You’d be surprised how many times our shelter has heard from people searching for a lost pet, “I just gave him a bath and forgot to put his collar back on. He never leaves the yard.” Contact your local veterinarian for more information.
Licensing your pet not only displays responsible pet ownership but it also helps fund local animal welfare initiatives in your community. In addition to your pet’s license, here are some benefits of your DocuPet online profile:
- Hundreds of unique and colorful designer tag styles to choose from or design your own tag style online
- With full access to HomeSafe® 24/7 lost pet service, upload recent photos of your pet and include important information that will help identify and retrieve them if they become lost
- Gain access to exclusive promotions and discounts
- Add additional pet guardians to your pet's profile
- Skip the trip and easily purchase or renew your pet's license from the comfort of home
- Upload important new documents for your pet by snapping a photo
- Easily view and download your pet’s license documentation
- Read up on exclusive pet-focused content
- Manage, or make changes to your account at anytime including updating your contact information and making changes to pet details and status
- View your order status and history