YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County dog licenses can be renewed for 2022 through Feb. 28.

Dog license season is Dec. 1 through Feb. 28 each year. Licenses renewed during this time are $20. Licenses renewed after the Feb. 28 deadline double in price as there is a $20 penalty assessed per license.

Current dog owners will receive a renewal dog license application as a courtesy in the mail this month. It is, however, the dog owner’s responsibility to purchase a license each year even if they have not received a renewal notice. Dogs acquired after Feb. 28 must be licensed immediately to avoid penalties. Three-year dog licenses also are available for $60 and lifetime licenses can be purchased for $200.

The extension allowed by the state of Ohio for 2021 licenses due to COVID-19 is not available this year.

Auditor Ralph Meacham and Dianne L. Fry, Mahoning County dog warden, strongly encourage dog owners to renew their dog licenses online at Dog Tags Mahoning County or through the mail to the auditor’s or dog warden’s offices.

The online dog license sales function has been updated and improved from previous years. A fee of 2.4 percent of the transaction ($1.49 minimum) is charged when purchasing a license online.

If someone finds a dog that is wearing a current Mahoning County dog license, they can obtain the owner phone number and first name through the Locate an Owner search function using the dog license number.

To ensure all dogs are registered pursuant to the requirements in the Ohio Revised Code, the dog warden’s office will be canvassing neighborhoods throughout the county beginning April 15.

“Be sure to register your dog by Feb. 28, 2022, to avoid a penalty, and to assist us in their safe return if your dog becomes lost. Also, please have your license information and proof of a current rabies vaccination readily available if we come to your home,” said Fry.

If a resident receives a notice for a dog that has died or they no longer own, they should notify the auditor’s office through its website or by phone. The warden can be reached at 330-740-2205.