Dog Licensing

Virtually every community has some kind of dog license fee. Usually these are low, less than $30 a year. Cities and towns require dog licensing in part to control rabies and force owners to take responsibility rather than letting their dogs run wild in the streets. It's a minor part of the annual cost of owning a dog, but the fines for ignoring licensing laws can be quite large.

Some communities use licensing fees to encourage responsible dog ownership or to discourage the keeping of breeds believed to be dangerous. The city of Boston, Mass., for example, charges a $17 licensing fee for dogs, but cuts it to $6 if the dog is spayed or neutered. The license fee goes up to $50 if the dog is a pit bull or pit-bull mix, and owners of these dogs are required to follow special rules about muzzles and "beware of dog" signs.