Dog Licenses

Steps to Complete your Annual Dog Registration:

You may also drop by the Town Office during business hours to pay your dog registration fees. Please note that we are a cash-free office. Bring a check or exact change if you have not already paid online. If you stop by the office with certification and payment, we will try to complete your registration for you as time allows, usually getting your license finished within a few minutes. Otherwise, completed licenses will be mailed to the address we have on file.

Why Bother Licensing a Dog?

• It helps us identify your dog if lost
• It provides proof your dog is protected from rabies in the event your dog is bitten by a rabid animal, or in the event your dog bites an animal or person – which could result in quarantine or possible euthanasia
• It helps pay for VSNIP, addressing canine overpopulation in Vermont.
• It’s the law

Every dog in town needs to be licensed annually and needs to wear a current license tag.

If your dog needs updated rabies shots, you have until April 1 to submit payment and proof of vaccine for the license. Unlicensed dogs will be subject to a $100.00 fine.

Other Dog Related Information:

PET DEALERS: A pet dealer is any person (excluding pet shops, animal shelters, or rescue organizations) who sells or exchanges or who offers to sell or exchange cats, dogs, or wolf-hybrids, or any combination thereof, from three or more litters of cats, dogs, or wolf-hybrids in any 12-month period. A pet dealer shall apply to the municipal clerk of the town or city in which cats, dogs, or wolf-hybrids are kept for a pet dealer permit. The permit shall expire on March 31 of every year. The permit must be displayed prominently on the premises where the cats, dogs, or wolf-hybrids are kept. The pet dealer permit does not exempt the dogs or wolf-hybrids from any other required license(s). The clerk must distribute a copy of Part 3 of the Animal Welfare Regulations adopted by the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, contact information for the Animal Health Section, and information about sales tax obligations to the pet dealer. He or she must also maintain a record of the types of animals being kept by the permit holder. 20 V.S.A. § 3681.
Pet Dealer Permit: $25

BREEDING LICENSES: The owner/keeper of dogs or wolf-hybrids kept for breeding purposes may get a breeding [or special] license for such animals on or before April 1 if the animals are kept in a proper enclosure.  A current  rabies vaccination is also  required  for each dog or wolf-hybrid. Such licensed dogs or wolf-hybrids are exempt from other license fees and any town surcharge. However, each breeding license issued is subject to the $1.00 state fee for state rabies control programs. 20 V.S.A. §§ 3583, 3581(f).

NOTE: Breeders of cats and ferrets may also apply for a breeding license for their operations. Breeding License cost $30.00 for the first ten dogs or wolf- hybrids; $3.00 for each additional dog or wolf-hybrid

WORKING FARM DOG: A person who owns a working farm dog and intends to use it on a farm pursuant to 20 V.S.A. § 3549 must get a working farm dog license by paying $5.00 in addition to other fees required by law. “Working farm dog” means a dog that is bred or trained to herd or protect livestock or poultry or to protect crops and that is used for those purposes and that is registered as a working farm dog.   20 V.S.A. §3581(a). Municipalities shall not prohibit or regulate the barking or running at large of a working farm dog when it is on the property being farmed by the person who registered the working farm dog if the working farm dog is barking and/or running at large in order to herd or protect livestock, poultry or crops. Farm Dog License cost: Regular licensing fee + $5 per dog 

Reporting a Complaint about a Dog:

If you have experienced an incident with a dog here in Calais and would like to report a complaint, please fill out the Calais Animal Complaint form and submit it to the Town Clerk, who will forward it to the Animal Control Officer and Health Officer.