By Natalie Morales
Enquirer staff writer

Dan Evans, director of the Kenton County Animal Shelter, shows new county license tags for dogs and cats. The Enquirer/PATRICK REDDY

Northern Kentucky animal shelters are pushing dog owners to get licenses even though it's no longer a state requirement.

As of July 1, counties could choose to adopt ordinances to continue dog-licensing programs.

Boone, Campbell and Kenton previously required dogs to be licensed not only by the state but also by the county, and all have chosen to continue requiring licenses.

"It's very helpful in case animals get lost," said Melissa Williams, Campbell County Fiscal Court director of administration. "If it has a county tag, we can go to the database and return it to the owner."

Dogs brought in to be licensed must also have proof of vaccinations and meet state rabies standards.

Kenton County licensed about 2,600 dogs last year, said Dan Evans, Kenton County Animal Shelter director. The goal is to license at least 10,000 of the estimated 50,000 dogs in the county within the next year.

LICENSING

•  Boone County: $5 per year •  Campbell County: $5 per year •  Kenton County: $9 per year for spayed/neutered pets; $15 per year for unaltered pets

"We would love 100 percent of dogs to be licensed because it's a law, but we're hoping for at least 20 percent," Evans said.

Campbell County licensed about 1,600 dogs last year, and Boone County licensed about 3,900 dogs.

Licenses can be purchased at fiscal courts and animal shelters, but Kenton County is working to make more licensing locations available. Licenses also will be sold at some pet suppliers and veterinary clinics within the next few weeks, Evans said.

Kenton County increased fees from $5 to $9 when it took over licensing, because the shelter needed money to create a new animal database and to cover the cost of the new tags, Evans said.

All the licensing money collected now goes back to each shelter and will be used for daily operations and building expansion, Evans said.

E-mail nmorales@enquirer.com