June is dog license month

#Middlebury

Connecticut dogs must be licensed every year during the month of June, and this year residents have until August 1 (due to an executive order from Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont) to purchase their new dog licenses without paying a late fee. Licenses purchased after that date are subject to a $1 per month late fee.

Licenses are $8 for a neutered or spayed dog and $19 if they are not. Payment is by check or credit card. Dogs six months and older must be licensed per state law.

Proof of up-to-date rabies shots must be provided, as well as a certificate of neutering or spaying if your dog has not been registered before. If your dog has a microchip, please provide the registration number.

In the past, residents could either drop by town hall to pay for the license or mail in their payment. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s procedure is a little different. Town Clerk Brigitte Bessette is emailing a letter to all dog owners currently in the system. The letter explains this year’s procedure.

Dog owners can register their dog online with a credit card. Those who do so will pay a convenience fee in addition to the license fee and the license tags will be mailed to them.

Dog owners also can mail in the fee with a completed dog license application and the appropriate documents and check. Make your check payable to “Town of Middlebury” and mail your paperwork to Town Clerk, 1212 Whittemore Road, Middlebury, CT 06762.

To register online, go to www.middlebury-ct.org, look for the paw graphic and click on the option to pay online. To apply for a license online, go to www.middlebury-ct.org, look for the paw graphic and click on the online application option. It allows you to fill out the form and print it out so you can mail it in.

To register a dog in person this year, you need to call 203-758-2557 and make an appointment. Town Hall is not open for walk-in business.

Another change this year is that those who apply for tags through June 30 will be entered into a lottery, and the winner of the lottery will receive dog tag No. 1. In the past, tag No. 1 went to the first dog owner to show up at town hall and pay for a tag.

For more information, call 203-758-2557 or email townclerk@middlebury-ct.org or mblukowski@middlebury-ct.org.